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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Zaatar manakish with salad

Zaatar manakish are soft Lebanese flatbreads topped with a fragrant zaatar and olive oil paste, served with a tomato, cucumber and mint salad. This recipe serves 4, takes 1 hour 10 minutes, rates as medium difficulty because of the yeasted dough, and costs €1.40 per person. The trick is a very hot baking sheet so the bottom cooks through right away.

Manakish, these warm Lebanese flatbreads topped with zaatar, served with tomatoes, cucumber and fresh mint to crunch on.

Zaatar manakish with salad
Total time
1 h 10
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.40
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Manakish comes out of the oven warm, soft in the middle and slightly crisp at the edges, with a layer of zaatar paste that fills the kitchen with its smell while it bakes. The spice blend, usually thyme, sumac and sesame, gives it that herby, tangy flavor you immediately recognize as Lebanese. You eat it hot, folded or rolled, straight from your hands.

This is a relaxed weekend recipe, for when you have time to knead the dough and let it rise without rushing. Kids love rolling their own manakish with vegetables tucked inside, and the fresh tomato, cucumber and mint salad balances the richness of the olive oil in the dough nicely. Easy to share around the table, as a light meal or a casual spread.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 500 g
  • Active dry yeastoften in the pantry 1 packet
  • Zaatar 5 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 10 tbsp
  • Black olives 80 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 tsp

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 4
  • Cucumber 2
  • Mint 1 bunch
  • Lemon 1

Allergens Gluten, Sesame

The step by step recipe

  1. Knead the flour with the yeast, salt, a tablespoon of oil and 300 ml of warm water, then let it rise under a kitchen towel. 45 min

    A warm spot like the oven turned off with the light on speeds up the rise.

  2. Divide the dough into eight balls and roll them into thin 15 cm rounds.

    Flour the surface lightly but not too much, dough that sticks a bit a little stretches more easily.

  3. Mix the zaatar with the olive oil and spread it over the rounds, leaving a bare border.

    Press it in with your fingertips so the zaatar sticks.

  4. Bake at 240 °C on a very hot baking sheet. 10 min

    Preheat the baking sheet inside the oven, the flatbread cooks through from the bottom right away.

  5. Cut the tomatoes and cucumber, add the mint and olives, and dress with lemon and olive oil for the salad.

    Roll a manakish with a bit of salad inside, that's how it's traditionally eaten.

Our tips to get it right

  • Weigh the zaatar instead of eyeballing it, store bought blends vary a lot in strength from one brand to another.
  • If the dough sticks too much while you're shaping it, dampen your hands slightly instead of adding more flour, the flatbread stays softer once baked.
  • Check the manakish after 8 minutes, the edges should just start to brown, overbaked dough turns dry and brittle.

The variations

  • Swap store bought zaatar for a homemade mix of thyme, sumac and toasted sesame seeds if you can't find it ready made.
  • Crumble halloumi or feta over the zaatar paste before baking for a richer version.
  • For impatient kids, shape smaller rounds, they bake in 6 minutes and eat like warm crackers.

What to serve it with

  • Thick labneh or Greek yogurt on the side
  • Fresh mint tea
  • Hummus for dipping the edges

Storage

Manakish keep for 2 days at room temperature wrapped in a towel or in an airtight container. They freeze well once baked and cooled, just reheat them straight from frozen in the oven. The salad is best eaten the same day, it doesn't keep.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the night before and let it rise slowly in the fridge. Take it out an hour before shaping so it comes back to room temperature.

What exactly is zaatar?

It's a Lebanese and Middle Eastern spice blend made of dried thyme, sumac and sesame seeds. You can find it ready made at Middle Eastern grocers or in the spice aisle of most supermarkets.

Can you bake manakish without a baking sheet?

A hot cast iron skillet works too, cook about 3 to 4 minutes per side over medium high heat. The result is a bit closer to a grilled flatbread than an oven baked one.

How do you adapt the recipe if you don't like olives?

You can simply leave them out of the salad without changing anything else. Rinsed capers add a similar salty note in a smaller amount.

How long does it take to make zaatar manakish with salad?

Count 1 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in zaatar manakish with salad?

About 570 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does zaatar manakish with salad cost?

About €1.40 per serving, or €5.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, sesame. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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