Description
Cheese Manakish is a delightful Lebanese snack featuring a soft, yeasted flatbread topped with a creamy blend of Queso Blanco and mozzarella cheeses. This cozy and flavorful treat is easy to prepare and perfect for sharing as a warm, cheesy appetizer or light meal. Enhanced with traditional Middle Eastern zaatar and optional toppings like fresh spinach or cooked ground beef, it offers a well-rounded taste experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Toppings
- 1 cup Queso Blanco
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon zaatar
- 1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
- 1 cup cooked ground beef (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm water, olive oil, and salt. Mix until you have a sticky dough, then knead for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for approximately 2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat the oven and shape dough: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Divide the risen dough into equal-sized balls and flatten each into a circle about 5-6 inches wide. Use your fingers to create a small dip in the center of each circle.
- Add toppings: Mix the Queso Blanco, mozzarella, and zaatar together to form the cheese mixture. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of this cheese mixture into the center of each dough circle, leaving roughly a 1-inch border around the edges. Optionally, add fresh spinach or cooked ground beef on top of the cheese mixture.
- Bake: Place the prepared manakish on greased baking sheets. Bake them in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes, or until the dough becomes lightly golden and crispy underneath.
- Serve warm: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the warm, cheesy, and fragrant manakish fresh from the oven!
Notes
- For best texture, ensure the warm water is about 105-110°F to properly activate the yeast.
- You can customize toppings by adding vegetables or meats per your preference.
- Za’atar can be substituted or omitted if unavailable, but it adds a distinctive Middle Eastern flavor.
- Use a pizza stone if available to get a crisper bottom on the manakish.
- Leftover manakish can be reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
