Manakeesh (Arabic Pizza) – Middle East

Manakeesh - Simply Lebanese

Manakish, or in singular form man’ousheh, or other spellings, sometimes called Arabic: فَطَايِر‎, romanized: faṭāyir, is a popular Levantine food consisting of dough topped with thyme, cheese, or ground meat. Similar to a pizza, it can be sliced or folded, and it can be served either for breakfast or lunch.

  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for shaping
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for coating bowl

Zaatar Spread

  • 1/3 cup zaatar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Make the Dough

  • In a large bowl, activate the yeast in warm water; allow 10 minutes for it to proof.
  • Add the salt, sugar and olive oil to bowl and use a wooden spoon to mix until combined. Wait a few minutes, then add the flour into the wet ingredients and mix with a spoon until the dough becomes shaggy and you’re no longer able to mix.
  • Transfer to a floured surface and knead the dough by hand to form a tight ball.
  • Place the dough back into the same oil-coated bowl. Cover with a plastic wrap or towel and set aside at room temperature to rise for 45-60 minutes.

Make the Zaatar Spread

  • Mix the zaatar with olive oil in small bowl until it forms a consistent and spreadable mixture.

Assemble and Bake

  • Preheat the oven to 450° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Divide the dough into 6-8 equal parts, depending on how large you’d like them. Use your fingers to spread each piece into a round flat disc, about 1 ½ inch thickness.
  • Place 1-2 tablespoons of zaatar spread on each dough and use the back of the spoon to spread evenly. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the dough becomes light golden in color and puffs slightly.
  • Enjoy warm with cheese and vegetables, if desired.
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