Manakish Zaatar (Lebanese Flatbread with Thyme, Sesame and Olive Oil)
Local name: مناقيش زعتر
In short: Soft, chewy flatbreads topped with a paste of thyme, toasted sesame, sumac and olive oil, baked until the edges turn golden. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Manakish zaatar is the everyday Lebanese bakery flatbread: a soft, chewy round of dough spread with zaatar mixed into olive oil and baked hot and fast. It is eaten warm at breakfast, often with sliced tomato, cucumber, mint and olives, or rolled up and taken to go. The dough is simple, and a very hot oven gives bubbly edges and a tender middle.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and 1 1/2 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add the 2 tbsp olive oil and then the water a little at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and springy.
- Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, stir the thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and 1/2 tsp salt into the 80 ml (1/3 cup) olive oil to make a loose, spreadable paste.
- Heat the oven to 230°C (450°F) with two baking sheets inside. Divide the dough into 8 balls, cover and rest for 15 minutes.
- Shape each ball on a square of parchment paper into a round about 18 cm (7 in) wide, a little thicker at the edge. Dimple the surface all over with your fingertips.
- Spread about 1 tbsp of the paste over each round, leaving a 1 cm (1/2 in) border.
- Using the parchment, slide 2 or 3 rounds at a time onto the hot sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are golden. Serve warm, folded or rolled, with tomato, cucumber, mint and olives.
Tips
- Preheat the baking sheets so the base starts cooking at once. Most parchment paper is safe to about 230°C (450°F), so do not set the oven hotter.
- Go easy on the topping, because too much oil makes the bread soggy. Cool baked manakish and freeze them for up to 2 months, then warm in a hot pan to serve.
Questions and answers
What is zaatar?
Zaatar is both a wild herb and the spice mix made from dried thyme, toasted sesame seeds, sumac and salt. Stirred into olive oil, it becomes the classic topping for manakish.
Can I use ready-made pizza dough?
Yes. Roll it out thin, top it the same way and bake at 220°C (425°F) for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden.
How do I keep manakish soft?
Do not roll the dough too thin, avoid overbaking, and stack the warm breads in a clean towel so they steam slightly and stay tender.
How long does it take to make Manakish Zaatar (Lebanese Flatbread with Thyme, Sesame and Olive Oil)?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Manakish Zaatar (Lebanese Flatbread with Thyme, Sesame and Olive Oil)?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 570 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
