Manoushe Zaatar — Print Recipe

Soft, pillowy flatbread generously smeared with a fragrant paste of zaatar herb blend and olive oil, baked until bubbly. This is Lebanon's quintessential breakfast, eaten fresh from the neighborhood bakery every morning.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp olive oil for dough
6 tbsp zaatar herb blend
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil for topping
1 tbsp sesame seeds
Fresh tomatoes and mint for serving

Instructions

1 Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm water and olive oil, knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and rest 20 minutes.
2 Combine zaatar herb blend with olive oil to form a thick, spreadable paste. It should be loose enough to spread easily.
3 Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Roll each into a round disc about 20cm in diameter and 5mm thick.
4 Place rounds on oiled baking sheets. Spread a generous layer of the zaatar-oil paste evenly over each round to the very edges.
5 Bake at 230C for 8-10 minutes until the bread is puffed and lightly golden and the zaatar topping is fragrant and bubbly.
6 Fold in half or roll up and eat immediately with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, mint leaves, and a cup of sweet Lebanese tea.

Did You Know?

In Lebanon, the morning call of "manoushe!" from neighborhood bakeries is as reliable as an alarm clock — the scent of fresh zaatar wakes entire streets.