Go Back
+ servings
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Manakish (Manakeesh) with Za'atar and Cheese

Manakish or Manakeesh is a Middle Eastern flatbread pizza topped with za'atar and shredded cheese. The bread is so fluffy! These are perfect for breakfast or brunch with a warm mug of tea!
Course: Breads
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Servings: 8
Calories: 696kcal
Author: Marzia

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups bread flour
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour or use 3 cups total and skip bread flour
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast see notes for options
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dry milk powder or replace ½ cup water with milk
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons oil such as avocado, sunflower etc.
  • 1 cup warm water plus more (105ºF)

Toppings:

  • 1 ¼ cups zaa’tar seasoning
  • 1 cup olive oil scant
  • 3 cups shredded Akawi cheese or 50:50 mozzarella and feta

Instructions

  • MAKE DOUGH: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Combine the yogurt, oil, and warm water in a measuring cup with a whisk, then add to the mixing bowl. With hands, a dough whisk, or in a stand mixer set on speed 4, knead the dough for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. The dough shouldn’t be sticky when you poke it with your finger. It also shouldn’t be too dry or crumbly. If it is, you can use 1-2 more tablespoons of water and mix it into the dough well.
  • LET IT RISE: Gather and form a dough ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let sit in a warm place to prove for 45 minutes or until doubled in size (see notes.) When 10 minutes are remaining, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 500ºF. If your preparing this on a pizza stone/steel, allow it to preheat in the oven.
  • ROLL: Divide dough into 8 equal dough balls. Once divided, flatten the dough by rolling it out into a 6-inch circle that is ½ inch in thickness. If the dough sticks to the counter, use a sprinkle of flour on the surface and the rolling pin. If the dough doesn’t give, cover with a tea towel and let rest 10 minutes. Dimple the dough with your fingers pushing all the way down so that the dough doesn’t rise too much in the oven. Transfer to a sheet pan sprayed with oil spray or to a floured peel before topping.
  • TOP: Combine the zaa’tar and olive oil in a small bowl. Spread roughly 2 tablespoons on the dough leaving a ¼ inch border. Then sprinkle with cheese. If you are baking these on a sheet pan, spray a nonstick sheet pan with cooking spray. Place 1-3 manakish on the sheet pan (whatever fits comfortably.)
  • BAKE: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake. The pizza steel takes 5-6 minutes for the dough to cook through and the cheese to melt, baking on a sheet pan will take longer; about 6-10 minutes to cook through. Serve warm!

Notes

  • Active dry yeast: be sure to bloom it before adding it to the bread mixture. Add the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast to a bowl, stir and let sit for 5-10 minutes or until foamy. Once the yeast is activated, you can add it into the bread dough when you add the water. 
  • Milk: instead of powder, you will need to warm the milk (just like the water.) You can use milk + water to bloom the yeast if it is active dry yeast.
  • Let is rise: a weird trick that I use to help dough rise, I heat my empty dryer for a few minutes until warm. Turn off the dryer, and place the bowl of dough inside (do not turn the dryer back on.) The heat will help the dough rise quickly.
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 696kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 45g | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 3g
    QR Code linking back to recipe