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Manaaeesh - Lebanese Flatbread with Za’tar

SpiceManaaeesh is a wonderful flatbread from Lebanon.  Often called Flatbread with Thyme, this refers to the Thyme in the Za’tar, a common spice in the Middle East.  The last time I had this wonderful bread, I was Chef Ana Sortun’s Oleana in Boston. This recipe is adapted from her cookbook, Spice.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup and 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 Tablespoons Za’tar

Procedure:

  1. Proof the yeast in ¼ cup of warm (90-110 degrees F) water and let the mixture stand for 10 minutes. Pour the yeast and the remaining ½ cup water into the work bowl of your mixer.
  2. Mix in the ¾ cup of olive oil using a whisk.
  3. Add ½ teaspoon salt and all of the flour to the bowl. Use the mixer’s dough hook, beginning with a slow speed, mix in the flour. Gradually increase the speed to medium and mix for another 7 minutes.
  4. Lightly oil a glass or stainless mixing bowl (you cannot use the bowl in which you just mixed the dough). Transfer the dough to the oiled bowl and cover with plastic. Allow to rest for two hours or up to overnight.
  5. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a ½ sheet pan. Spread oil the oil on the pan with a paper towel or brush. Transfer the dough to the sheet pan and cover with plastic.
  6. Preheat your oven to 375F.
  7. After the dough has rested for 1 hour, press it out with your fingers into a rectangle, about 10″ by 12″. Be sure to leave little dimples in the bread from your finger tips.
  8. Brush the dough with 2 Tablespoons of oil.
  9. Sprinkle the Za’tar over the bread and then sprinkle the bread with the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt.
  10. Allow the bread to rest for a final 30 minutes uncovered at room temperature.
  11. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden around the edges.
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May 1st, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Bread, Lebanon |

18 comments to Manaaeesh - Lebanese Flatbread with Za’tar

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