Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (2024)

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (1)Helene Dsouza

Zaatar Bread, aka Manoushe or Manakish, is a popular flatbread from the middle east. The bread can be prepared with pizza dough and is then topped with a zaatar seasoning paste before being baked in high heat for a short time. The result is soft and layered, seasoned bread.

Total Time: 36 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

1 large flatbread

4.9 from 27 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (2)

Zaatar Bread is a soft flatbread topped with a zaatar seasoning mixed with olive oil paste, which is then baked like a pizza.

The bread is enjoyed still hot in the middle east for breakfast or with a meal.

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (3)

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (4)

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You will love this seasoned flatbread if you are into pizza, pita, and other middle eastern/Mediterraneanbaked delicacies!

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  • 🥖 Zaatar bread ingredients
  • 👁️ More Mediterraneanrecipe ideas:
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Zaatar Bread is the English name. The flatbread is better known by various names.

Man'ousheh is the single form for one zaatar bread and manakish the plural.

Other writing variations include manoushe, manoush, manakeesh, manaeesh and manaqish.

This particular flatbread is usually associated with the Lebanese and Syrian cuisine.

Yet, zaatar bread, in general, is super popular across the middle east as is the seasoning used on the bread, Zaatar.

I got to taste my first zaatar bread in Austria when the village organized that the Syrian men refugees prepared Manakish for the yearly village celebrations.

The point was to introduce their culture closer to the population, so to say to integrate them and keep them busy with things to do.

With that said,... looks like Zaatar bread is going to be more common in Europe from now on!

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (5)

🥖 Zaatar bread ingredients

So when I tasted Zaatar bread, prepared by the refugees, I instantly fell in love with the flatbread.

Yet I think the men who prepared it were missing an essential ingredient to prepare the zaatar (which is kind of the main ingredient here anyway).

As I mentioned in my zaatar seasoning recipe, the blend of spices is prepared with sumac, which is a sour spice.

It adds tartness to zaatar and that is why zaatar is such a big deal!

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (6)

The refugees obviously didn't have sumac when they prepared their own zaatar. So the taste was slightly off.

Nonetheless, the locals in the village enjoyed the flatbreads and the event was kind of a success.

Anyhow, this brings us back to the fact that the few ingredients that are used to prepare this zaatar bread should be spot on and of great quality!

So, keep that in mind when you buy the ingredients.

You will need a Pizza dough, which is prepared with flour, yeast, water, salt and olive oil.

You can see in my how to make pizza dough video that preparing pizza from scratch is the way to go.

The flavors are way better and you know whats in your dough.

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (7)

To top the rolled out pizza dough you will need a zaatar paste, which is simply zaatar mixed with olive oil.

The Zaatar bread is soft when finished baked and has layers and at times it creates air pockets and blows up a bit when you bake it.

When it's baking, you will smell it from afar because the herbs with the olive oil are getting infused into the bread surface.

You won't be able to stop yourself from finishing the whole thing by yourself.

The amount of Zaatar Olive oil paste can be adjusted. I don't add that much.

I think it' s sufficiently seasoned, however, feel free to double the amount of paste which you spread over the rolled out bread dough.

Serve the hot Zaatar Bread for breakfast or enjoy with a meal, homemade Labneh or even with a delicious olive tapenade or my green cashew basil pesto.

👁️ More Mediterraneanrecipe ideas:

  • Shakshuka with Feta Cheese
  • Greek Salad

💡 Flatbread Recipes from around the world

  • Colombian Arepas
  • Indian Chapati

Dear Reader, how did you get to know about this flatbread?

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (8)

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (9)

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📖 Recipe

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (10)

Lebanese Zaatar Bread Recipe - Manoushe/Manakish

Zaatar Bread, aka Manoushe or Manakish, is a popular flatbread from the middle east. The bread can be prepared with pizza dough and is then topped with a zaatar seasoning paste before being baked in high heat for a short time. The result is soft and layered, seasoned bread.

4.89 from 27 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

Total Time: 36 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 large flatbread

Calories: 1375kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

For the bread dough:

For the Zaatar Paste:

US - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl add the dry ingredients first. That includes the flour, the yeast, and salt. Mix all the dry ingredients.

  • Create a well in the center and add the olive oil and some of the lukewarm water.

  • Start to mix all the ingredients and add some water when it gets dry. That way you mix the dough ingredients and form it slowly into a smooth ball while incorporating step by step all the water.

  • Then work out the dough. This is important because layers get formed and the dough will be able to rise properly. You want an airy light dough.

  • Place your dough into a bowl, cover with some flour and a cloth and keep in a warm and dry spot.

  • Leave the dough to rise for as long as possible. You can prepare the flatbread once your dough has doubled in size.

  • Preheat your oven to 210 Celsius/410 Fahrenheit.

  • Work out your dough again before you roll it out.

  • Roll out or stretch out your dough to a circle or elliptical shape and place on a baking tray.

  • In a bowl mix the zaatar seasoning with the olive oil.

  • Spread the zaatar paste over the flatbread all over evenly.

  • Bake your Zaatar bread for 6 minutes at 210 Celsius/410 Fahrenheit.

  • Enjoy the manoushe still hot for breakfast or as a flatbread with middle eastern meals.

Notes

  1. I use instant yeast to prepare the dough with yeast without having to proof the yeast. You may use fresh yeast or dry active yeast as well. In that case, refer to the package instructions for the yeast proofing.
  2. You can heat up your oven for a few seconds and place the bowl with the dough into the warm oven (not hot!) while the oven light is on. The oven light creates more warmth, and that helps the dough to rise. It mimics the warming cupboards in commercial bakeries and kitchens. Keep in mind the yeast will be most active in a dry warm environment. Humidity levels above 75% in the air are not beneficial for yeast growth in homemade bread dough.
  3. For the best yeast rising result. Leave the dough to rise for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  4. You can split the dough in two or three and create smaller flatbreads, instead of one large one.
  5. You may double the amount of paste used on bread if you want to add even more flavors.
  6. One large Manoushe flatbread serves two. Nutrition is calculated for 2 servings.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Lebanese Zaatar Bread Recipe - Manoushe/Manakish

Amount Per Serving (216 g)

Calories 1375Calories from Fat 414

% Daily Value*

Fat 46g71%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Sodium 1190mg50%

Potassium 545mg16%

Carbohydrates 204g68%

Fiber 15g60%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 230IU5%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 151mg15%

Iron 19.5mg108%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Lebanese Zaatar Bread - Manakish, Manoushe Flatbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Manakish and Manoushe? ›

Manakeesh is also known as “Manoush”, “Manaeesh”, and “Manakish”. It can be described as a flat baked dough with toppings, just like a pizza – which is why it is often referred to as 'Lebanese Pizza'.

What do you do with Lebanese Zaatar? ›

Za'atar is an incredibly versatile Middle Eastern spice blend, one of my favorites. Particularly this time of year when it's a welcome addition to all sorts of roasted vegetables, soups and stews, or simply sprinkled over everything from yogurt, to eggs, to savory granola.

What is Manoush Lebanese? ›

The Lebanese version of pizza is what is known as man'oushe, which consists of flat bread topped with oil and za'atar, plus toppings like cheese, pickles, veggies, labneh and meat and, much like pizza, is traditionally cooked over a wood fire.

What is Za Atar bread made of? ›

If you want a beautiful bread that has it ALL, here you go. Za'atar, the Lebanese spice blend of wild thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds (pronounced ZAH-tuh; find a great one here), is mixed with oil, then spread on enriched dough (oil, eggs).

What does Zaatar mean in Lebanon? ›

Za'atar (/ˈzɑːtɑːr/ ZAH-tar; Arabic: زَعْتَر, IPA: [ˈzaʕtar]) is a Levantine culinary herb or family of herbs. It is also the name of a spice mixture that includes the herb along with toasted sesame seeds, dried sumac, often salt, and other spices.

What's the difference between Dukkah and Zaatar? ›

Dukkah and za'atar both come from the Middle Eastern region and have slight similarities. While some of the ingredients of the two spice mixes are the same, za'atar is made with more ground herbs, such as thyme and oregano, while dukkah is primarily seeds and nuts.

What does zaatar do to your body? ›

Plant-based healthy foods generate health-promoting effects, especially on chronic and cardio-metabolic diseases. Za'atar mixture is commonly employed in the Mediterranean diet and is rich of bioactive compounds. Za'atar components modulate gut microbiota, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and obesity.

What do we call zaatar in English? ›

Zaatar or Za'tar (zaah-tur) is a common noun in the Arabic language and refers to both a Middle-Eastern herb spice mixture and importantly a distinct herb plant in the mint family. The herbal plant is referred to in English as bible hyssop or Syrian oregano, but the mixture is just called zaatar.

Is zaatar good for inflammation? ›

Anti-inflammatory Properties: Many of the herbs in za'atar, like thyme and oregano, contain compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in reducing inflammation in the body.

What are 4 dishes traditionally eaten in Lebanon? ›

Well-known dishes include baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, sfeeha, falafel and shawarma. An important component of many Lebanese meals is hummus, a chickpea puree dish, and many dishes are eaten with flatbread. Well-known desserts include baklawa, sfouf and ka'ak.

What to eat with manoush? ›

I love to have my manoush spread with Labneh (Lebanese strained yogurt), a drizzle of olive oil, and topped with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and fresh herbs also make a tasty accompaniment.

What is a typical Lebanese breakfast? ›

A traditional Lebanese breakfast consists of Labneh, ka'ak, eggs, makdous, and something yummy from the bakery. There are so many options to choose from!

Is Zaatar good for high blood pressure? ›

Za'atar has been shown to help people with bronchitis stop coughing fits, and dried sumac, which is one of the main ingredients, has been shown to lower blood pressure and help people with type 2 diabetes.

What is in Trader Joe's Zaatar? ›

Its ingredients include toasted sesame seeds, thyme, marjoram, coriander, oregano, chickpea flour, sea salt, sunflower oil, citric acid and lemon oil.

What is the difference between Zaatar and sumac? ›

Some uncommon Middle Eastern spices such as sumac, za'atar, and dukkah have become my go-to's. They're perfect on fish, salads, meats, and vegetables. Sumac is a red-purple powder that adds a lovely lemony flavor and gorgeous color. Za'atar is a lemony hyssop or thyme, sumac, and sesame seed blend.

What is the difference between manakish and lahmacun? ›

Lahmacun is often topped with vegetables and rolled up. Originating from the Levant, lahm bi ajeen or lahmacun is a popular dish in Lebanon and Syria. In the Levant it is part of a series of foods called, collectively, Manakish - flatbreads with toppings. It is also sometimes referred to as "Lebanese pizza".

What is another name for Manakeesh? ›

Manakish
Manakish made with za'atar with vegetables on the side
Alternative namesManaqish, manaeesh, manakeesh, manooshe, man'ousheh, mankousheh
Place of originLevant
Main ingredientsDough, za'atar, cheese or ground meat
Media: Manakish
2 more rows

What is the meaning of manakish? ›

Noun. manakish. A Levantine Arabic food resembling a pizza and consisting of dough topped with thyme, cheese, or ground meat.

What is the meaning of Manousha? ›

Manousha is an Arabic word derived from the root verb naqasha, meaning 'to sculpt, carve out'.

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