Manakish (Cheese & Za’atar)
Manakish is a classic Middle Eastern flatbread topped with either aromatic za’atar and olive oil or a rich cheese blend. Soft, warm, and perfect for breakfast or tea time.
🛒 Ingredients
🍞 Dough
▢ 2½ cups all-purpose flour + 2 tbsp 🌾
▢ 1 tbsp sugar 🍬
▢ 1 tbsp instant yeast 🧂
▢ 1 cup warm water 💧
▢ ¼ cup olive oil 🫒
▢ 1 tsp salt 🧂
🧀 Cheese Topping
▢ 340 g fresh mozzarella (or Akawi cheese) 🧀
▢ 200 g feta cheese 🧀
▢ 1½ tbsp nigella seeds (kolonji) ⚫
🌿 Za’atar Topping
▢ ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 🫒
▢ 7 tbsp za’atar 🌿
👩🍳 Instructions
🍞 Make the Dough
1️⃣ Mix warm water and yeast in a bowl. Let sit for 3 minutes.
2️⃣ Add 1 cup flour and sugar to the yeast mixture. Mix well.
3️⃣ Cover and let rest for 10 minutes until slightly bubbly.
4️⃣ Add remaining flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
5️⃣ Knead by hand for 3–4 minutes until smooth.
6️⃣ Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
🌿 Prepare the Toppings
7️⃣ Mix za’atar with olive oil and set aside.
8️⃣ Mix mozzarella and feta together for the cheese topping.
🫓 Shape the Manakish
9️⃣ Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
🔟 Divide dough into 10 equal balls.
1️⃣1️⃣ Roll each ball into a thin flatbread (important: dough will puff in oven).
1️⃣2️⃣ Place on floured baking trays.
🧀 Add Toppings
1️⃣3️⃣ Spread za’atar mixture over half the flatbreads, leaving a small border.
1️⃣4️⃣ Spread cheese mixture over the remaining half.
1️⃣5️⃣ Sprinkle nigella seeds over cheese manakish.
🔥 Bake
1️⃣6️⃣ Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 12–15 minutes on the bottom rack until lightly golden.
1️⃣7️⃣ If baking multiple trays, rotate racks halfway through.
1️⃣8️⃣ Optional: broil cheese manakish for a few minutes for light browning.
🍽️ Serve
1️⃣9️⃣ Remove from oven and immediately cover with a towel to keep them soft.
2️⃣0️⃣ Serve warm with tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, and olives.
💡 Notes
• Dough should be rolled thin so it stays soft after baking.
• You can freeze baked manakish once cooled.
• Akawi cheese is traditional, but mozzarella + feta works great.
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