Manakeesh (Cheese and Zaatar )
Manakeesh are a very popular breakfast food based in the Levantine region of the Middle-East. Manakeesh are pretty much a flatbread topped with a variety of possible toppings. A few of those toppings are za’atar, a blend of cheeses, an onion and tomato mixture, and keshek. Manakeesh are a Middle-eastern flatbread typically eaten for breakfast. Delicious and crispy homemade dough is topped with a za’atar topping or a blend of cheeses for two different variety of Manakeesh.
Most often, Manakeesh are made the size of a personal pan pizza and folded in half like a sandwich for easy consumption.
Za’atar is a traditional spice blend of a combination of Lebanese oregano, a few other herbs, sumac and toasted sesame seeds. In Manakeesh, the za’atar blend is mixed with olive oil and spread onto the flatbread and then baked in brick oven.
Manakeesh Recipe
1.All purpose flour-2 cup
Wheat flour-1 1/4 cup
Salt-1/2 tsp
In a bowl put all the above ingredients.
2.Yeast-1 tbsp
Lukewarm Water-1 cup
Sugar-1 tsp
Olive oil-2-3 tbsps
Mix together 1/2 cup lukewarm water and sugar.Add in the yeast and stir in.Set this aside for 10 minutes for the yeast to rise.
Once risen,add the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and stir in.Add the remaining lukewarm water and extra water,if needed to make a dough.Knead this for 5 minutes .Add in the oil and knead for another 5 minutes to form a smooth dough.Pour the remaining oil onto the bowl and over the dough and cover the bowl with a lid and set aside for 1 1/2-2 hours for the dough to rise.
Once the dough has doubled,press it to release the gas/ air in it.Divide the dough into 9-10 balls and arrange in a tray and cover it with a cloth and set aside for 30-40 minutes for the second rise.
After 30 minutes,roll the dough with a roller to a thin dough (around 5 mm thickness).
3.Mozzarella cheese-200 gm
Halloumi cheese-150 gm
Zaatar blend-2-3 tbsps
Olive oil-1/4-1/2 cup
For a Zaatar topping, stir 2 tablespons of zaatar mixture with 1/2 cup of regular olive oil .
For the cheese toppings I used a mixture of Mozzarella and Halloumi cheese grated.Transfer to a non stick baking tray, spoon on the zaatar mixture or cheese mixture leaving a small margin around the edges and press the surface lightly with your fingers.
Preheat oven at 220 C.Use a pizza pan with holes for even baking.Place 2-3 Manakeesh on the oiled pizza pan/tray .
Bake for 6-10 minutes, turning half way if necessary to get an even bake.
Manakeesh is ready once the ends puff up and the cheese melts and starts to brown lightly.
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