Found all over the Levant as a popular street food that comes with many different toppings, Mana’eesh is a kind of flatbread that is eaten at all times of day from the morning breakfast table to the stands of a sports arena. It is by far the ultimate Arab breakfast and it’s fortunately super easy to make!

Ingredients:

• Dough:
  • 1 envelope of active dry yeast
  • A pinch of sugar
  • A generous cup of lukewarm water
  • 3 1/2 cups of flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1-2 tsp olive oil
• Za’atar:
  • 2 parts ground thyme
  • 1 part sumac
  • A handful of sesame seeds
  • A spoonful or two of olive oil 
  • A pinch of Salt

Directions:

1. Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
2. Pour yeast into a bowl of warm water and let it sit until it begins to foam.
3. Add yeast-water combo to your bowl of flour and salt.
4. Mix at first with a wooden spoon, then use your hands to mix.
5. Once the dough is a ball, roll it in oil to keep it moist. Then cover it in a damp cloth and leave it somewhere warm for 2 hours to rise.
6. When risen, knead the dough on a floured work surface and divide it into 12-15 balls. 
7. Leave the dough to rise for 15 minutes.
8. While waiting for your dough to rise make your za’atar topping by mixing your ground thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, salt, and olive oil until it becomes a paste-like consistency).
9. Next, pull the balls into small flat rounds and spread them out onto baking trays, and cover with your za’atar topping.
10. Preheat the oven to 450˚ F.
11. Bake the bread for 8-10 minutes, or until they slightly rise and lightly brown. •