Manakeesh: How To Make Lebanese Manakeesh Pizza

Lebanese Manakeesh Pizza

• Author: Romae Chanice Marquez
• Recipe Category: Snacks
• Cuisine: Lebanese

They are most commonly made about the size of a personal pizza pan and folded in half like a sandwich for easy consumption. Though there are many different varieties, the most well-known manakeesh is za’atar and cheese. In Lebanon, the go-to breakfast is known as Manakeesh. It’s quite close to the way we treat an egg and cheese sandwich as our go-to breakfast in America.

The whole preparation and cooking time is 3 hours. This recipe is suitable for 4 servings. 

Lebanese Manakeesh Pizza Ingredients

For the dough,

• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (one package active dry yeast)
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, more for dusting
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

For za’atar topping,

• 7 to 8 tbsp quality za’atar spice
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Additional ingredients,

• Fresh garden vegetables (tomato, cucumbers, radish)
• Olives
• Homemade labneh or feta cheese

Lebanese Manakeesh Pizza Instructions

Step 1: Combine the water, sugar, and yeast in a small pot. Put it aside to foam for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Create the batter. Combine the flour, salt, and olive oil in a large bowl. Run your hands through the mixture. Now, make a well in the middle and pour in the mixture of yeast and water. Stir until the dough becomes soft.

Step 3: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until the dough is elastic, smooth, and no longer sticky (as you knead, if the dough is too sticky for you, just sprinkle a tiny bit of flour on it).

Step 4: Shape dough into a ball and place it in a mixing bowl that is lightly oiled. Cover with damp cloth and place in a warm place (a good place is inside a dry, but turned-off oven). Let stand for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Step 5: After the dough has rested, briefly knead and shape into 8 little balls. Arrange on a lightly floured surface, cover again and leave for 30 minutes to grow.

Step 6: Mix the za’atar spice and olive oil in a bowl while the dough is rising.

Step 7: Oven preheat to 400 degrees F and heat up a baking sheet.

Step 8: Make the za’atar. Clean the heated baking sheet gently, and set it near you. Flatten the dough into tiny disks with a diameter of around 5 inches. Make indentations in the discs with your fingertips and add about 1 tbsp of za’atar topping in the center of each disk, leaving a narrow border around outside.

Step 9: Arrange the disks on an oiled baking sheet prepared (use two sheets if necessary, don’t crowd the manakeesh).

Step 10: Bake in a 400 degrees F heated-oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until the bottom and edges of the dough are slightly browned (za’atar topping should remain liquid at this point).

Step 11: Remove from heat and let sit for about 5 minutes, let the topping settle into the dough.

Step 12: Serve manaqish za’atar hot or at room temperature with some vegetables and feta cheese.

Lebanese Manakeesh Pizza Additional Information

•  Za’atar is a popular spice mix of Lebanese oregano, a couple of other spices, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds.
• This recipe will take about three hours to make.
• This recipe will make enough for four people.
• The za’atar blend in Manakeesh is mixed with olive oil and poured over the flatbread, and then baked in a brick oven.