Cheese Manakish
Crispy Lebanese flatbread topped with melted cheese and za'atar, baked until golden. A savory, herbaceous breakfast or snack ready in under 30 minutes.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 14g
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon instant yeast
- ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon za'atar spice blend
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon sumac (optional garnish)
Instructions
- 1
Stir together 1.5 cups flour, 0.5 teaspoon instant yeast, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl using a wooden spoon.
- 2
Pour 0.5 cup warm water (about the temperature of a warm bath) into the flour mixture and stir until a shaggy dough forms with no dry flour visible.
- 3
Knead the dough in the bowl by pushing it away from you with the heel of your hand, folding it back over itself, rotating the bowl a quarter turn, and repeating for 3 minutes until it feels smooth and slightly elastic.
- 4
Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 10 minutes until it appears slightly puffed and soft.
- 5
While the dough rests, combine 0.75 cup crumbled feta, 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 tablespoon za'atar, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice in a small bowl; stir until evenly mixed.
- 6
Preheat the oven to 425°F and wait until the indicator light or beep signals it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.
- 7
Divide the dough in half and shape each piece into a ball by pulling the edges toward the center and pinching them together underneath.
- 8
Place the first dough ball on an ungreased baking sheet and gently stretch it by pressing outward with your fingertips into a circle about 6 inches across and roughly 1/4 inch thick.
- 9
Spread half of the cheese mixture evenly over the dough circle, leaving a thin border at the edges untouched.
- 10
Repeat steps 8 and 9 with the second dough ball and remaining cheese mixture on the same baking sheet.
- 11
Slide the baking sheet into the hot oven and bake for 10–12 minutes until the flatbread edges turn golden brown and the cheese bubbles and slightly browns on top.
- 12
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the manakish cool on the sheet for 1 minute so the cheese sets slightly.
- 13
Transfer each manakish to a plate or cutting board using a wide spatula.
- 14
Sprinkle 0.25 teaspoon sumac over each flatbread if using, for bright color and tangy flavor.
Tools you’ll need
- large mixing bowl
- wooden spoon
- measuring cups and spoons
- kitchen towel
- small mixing bowl
- oven
- ungreased baking sheet
- wide spatula
- plates or cutting board
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