Manakeesh bil Za'atar (Flat Bread with Za'atar)

Name: Manakeesh bil Za'atar (Flat Bread with Za'atar)
Prep time: 120 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 8 discs
Cuisine: Lebanese Coastal & Mountain
Ingredients: 500 g plain flour; 0.5 tsp sugar; 2 tsp dried yeast; 0.5 tsp salt; about 310ml hand-hot water; 2 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp ground sumac; 1 tbsp sesame seeds; salt; 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Oven-baked ml hand, sesame seeds and thyme, warmed with sumac, a Lebanese bread.

2 hr 20 min · Serves 8 · Medium

Method

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Time: Prep 120 min · Cook 20 min · 140 min total
Difficulty: medium

1
To make the dough, sift the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add in the water and knead till the dough has come together leaving the sides of the bowl clean.
2
Transfer onto a clean work surface and knead for about 10 minutes till the dough is smooth and elastic.
10 min
3
Lightly grease the bowl and transfer the dough into the bowl and cover with cling film and leave it in a warm place till it has doubled in bulk, for about 1 1/2 hours.
120 min
4
Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 7/425F/220°C. Put 2 large oiled baking sheets in the oven to heat.
5
Knock the air out of the dough and knead again for about 2 minutes. Divide into 8 portions and roll each ball between your palms until smooth and round.
2 min
6
Flour the work surface and flatten each round with a rolling pin until it is circular, even, and about 1/4 inch thick.
7
Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for 20 more minutes. Brush the tops of the discs with a little olive oil.
8
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the zaatar spice mix and add in the remaining oil and give it a good mix.
9
Spread the oil-zaatar mixture over the surface of each bread. Slide the bread onto the hot baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve hot.
10 min