Za'atar Manakish/Manakish Zaatar/Lebanese Spiced Pita Bread

Zaatar Manakish or Manakish Zaatar is a traditional Lebanese spiced flatbread which is pronounced as Manaqish, manaeesh or manakeesh. This popular Levantine bread is also prepared with several toppings from cheese to meat. The most known topping is Zaatar, this spice mixture contains sesame seeds, salt, dried thyme and sumac. Sumac is a spice made from red berries which is grounded into powder. This gives a subtle flavor and its very much used in middle eastern cooking. I love this Zaatar spice powder, i tasted this spice powder mixed with olive oil for first time at one of Moroccan friend, she served this spice mix with her bread and i loved it to the core. But personally i never used this spice mixture in my cooking. Finally i got a packet of this Zaatar few days back and the first recipe came to my mind is this Manakish. Back home, i couldnt resist to prepare this super aromatic flatbread.

Manakish is a symbol of Lebanese street food. In Lebanese its is called as Manu'oushe b Zaatar. This flat bread consists of a dough which is pressed flat and topped with a mixture of Zaatar mixed with olive oil, which is then baked in a brick oven. You can see this fantastic aromatic bread literally everywhere in Lebanon as this bread can be carried and eaten on the go. My today's post is the final post this month's blogging marathon, yes this Lebanese flat bread is my 26th post of this month. Thank god, i finished this megamarathon without any hassle. If you are following my space, you might have noticed that am running this month's blogging marathon with A-Z Baking around the world as theme. Hence am posting this Zaatar Manakish for today's post.

1tbsp Active dry yeast

1tsp Sugar

1cup Luke warm water

2+1/2cups All-purpose flour

2tbsp Olive oil

1/2tsp Salt
3tbsp Zaatar spice mix
2tbsp Olive oil

Take 1/4 cup of water in a bowl,add sugar and yeast and give it a stir. Set it aside for 10 minutes.

Sift together flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add olive oil, yeast mixture and the remaining water.

Mix it well using a spoon until everything combines together.

Dust the counter with some extra flour and transfer the dough to the counter. Knead the dough for a while until it turns soft and shiny.

Make a ball of the dough. Coat a large bowl with a teaspoon of olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl.

Coat the dough with oil on all sides. Keep covered with a damp cloth and place the bowl in a  warm place until double in size.

Punch down the dough and release the air and knead it roughly.

Divide the dough into four portions. Line up your baking tray with baking sheet. Flatten up one portion of the dough into a slightly thin circles.

Mix the zaatar spice mix, olive oil in a bowl. Spread this mix over the flattened dough.

Bake in pre-heated oven at 220 degree C for about 10 to 15 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Remove from oven, place it on wire rack.

Slice and enjoy.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 75

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