published May 13, 2022 The Arabic name for zaatar bread is manakish, or sometimes spelled manakeesh. Many enjoy it as a simple, mild breakfast. It has a gentle sweetness and pillowy texture that is easy on the stomach. The dough is very simple and easy to make: the secret to its soft texture and comforting flavor is powdered milk, which may be the only ingredient you don’t already have. In my manakeesh recipe, I’ll show you how to make a robust spice topping made with my curated Zaatar Spice blend, as well as a tangy feta and mozzarella cheese spread. However, you can truly top this with anything you’d like. Treat it like a Middle Eastern pizza flatbread and customize it to fit any craving, meal, or occasion. Another excellent Middle Eastern flatbread is Kbuz – this whole grain option is great for scooping up hummus or dipping in sauces. DID YOU KNOW?Sumac, oregano, turmeric and many other Middle Eastern spices are full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties! What is manakish? The delicious breakfast staple is an easy-to-make Lebanese flatbread. While it can be eaten plain, the bread is usually topped with a combination of meat, spice blends, and/or cheeses. Oh, and there SO many different spellings for it, including manakish, manakeesh, manaeesh, and manaqish. If you’re referring to one piece of flatbread, the singular is manousheh. Of all the varieties, zaatar bread stands out as my favorite manakeesh recipe! Soft yeast-risen flatbread has a topping of olive oil and Lebanese za’atar. It’s most popular for breakfast, but it sure does make for an amazing snack or appetizer too!
Video: How to Make Zaatar Bread
This manakeesh recipe is pretty simple to make, even if you don’t normally bake your own bread. To see the process from start to finish, just watch the video in the recipe card below.
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Dough – A simple dry yeast dough made with granulated sugar, warm water, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and olive oil. There is one somewhat unusual ingredient in the mix, though veteran bread makers are likely used to using:Powdered Milk – It will tenderize the bread and make it incredibly soft, as well as add a gentle, mildly sweet flavor. You can also use powdered buttermilk. Zaatar Topping – Olive oil and water mixed with zaatar spice, a Lebanese spice blend containing sumac, thyme, sesame seeds, and salt.Cheese Topping – A combination of shredded mozzarella cheese and crumbled feta cheese. For a stronger, tangier flavor, you could add goat cheese as well or in place of the feta.
HOW TO MAKE ZAATAR BREAD DOUGH
HOW TO ASSEMBLE ZAATAR BREAD
What is zaatar bread made of?
Manakish is made with a slightly sweet yeast dough, made soft and fluffy with the addition of powdered milk. Olive oil makes it moist and chewy as well, giving the flatbread a very pleasant consistency and flavor.
Is zaatar manakeesh healthy?
There are quite a few calories in manakish: 419 in this recipe, which yields 8 servings. While not exactly healthy, you could lower calories and carbs by using whole wheat and opting for low fat toppings.
Can you freeze zaatar bread?
Absolutely! You can freeze dough for up to 4 weeks, so I definitely recommend making this manakeesh recipe in bulk if you love to eat flatbread. Thaw in the refrigerator before proceeding with baking. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend freezing after baking. If you choose to do so, thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in an oven at 300°F until the dough becomes firm and fluffy. This recipe first appeared on Silk Road Recipes in April 2021 and has been updated with new content, photos and/or video.
