· veganbilaraby
Zaatar Manakish is a Middle Eastern flatbread, a wheat dough topped with a mixture of zaatar spice and olive oil. It’s mainly a breakfast dish, especially in the Levantine region. This recipe is for Gluten-free Zaatar Manakish.
What is Zaatar?
Zaatar or Za’tar refers to both a herb spice mixture and a herb plant. An authentic zaatar mixture consists of the following:
- Ground Zaatar herb, which is native to the Levantine region of the Middle East.
- Sumac powder for adding lemony flavor.
- Roasted sesame seeds add crunchiness.
The texture should be coarse, herbal, and fluffy rather than a fine powder. Genuine and authentic zaatar mix is usually difficult to get & more expensive especially if you live outside the Middle East region. Most brands sold in the supermarkets use substitutes and fillers that mimic zaatar taste which results in different flavor profiles. It is best to get your zaatar mix from a Middle Eastern supermarket or online brand that you trust. I live in DXB and there are many places we can buy authentic zaatar mix but the best zaatar I have ever tasted, I usually get it through a friend who gets it directly from Palestine, it’s the freshest most delicious zaatar mix. You will know what a fake zaatar tastes like once you try an authentic fresh one. The most common way to enjoy zaatar mix the ” Middle Eastern way” is a dip with quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh bread or zaatar manakish which is the recipe for today.
What is Zaatar Manakish?
It’s a dough (Pizza or Flatbread dough) topped with a mixture of Zaatar and olive oil. Cooked in a pizza oven and served piping hot. A traditional recipe is made with wheat flour, but this recipe is made with a simple gluten-free dough that is easy to make and you don’t need an oven, just a stove!
Recipe ingredients:
- Gluten-free flour blend: I’ve used a ready mix (Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour) that has mainly rice flour in addition to other ingredients. I use this dough recipe to make basic flatbread which is what manakish is really. The resulting dough will have a perfect texture, can be folded easily, and will be chewy. This recipe will not work if you use a one-ingredient GF flour such as rice only or oat flour only.
- Coconut yogurt: if you are worried about the coconut taste, I can assure you that the manakish will not taste coconutty at all but if you prefer to use another plant-based yogurt this recipe works with soy yogurt as well.
- Baking powder.
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Salt.
- Zaatar mix.
How to serve Zaatar Manakish?
Below are a few ideas to serve it:
- With fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mint, and olives.
- Add your favorite Vegan cheese and melt it, you will have zaatar and cheese manakish
- One of my favorite ways to enjoy zaatar manakish is to dip it in labneh, I use a store-bought vegan labneh.
- Or just have it solo with a cup of black tea.
Storing:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They can freeze as well for up to a month. Reheat in the oven or use a pan stove top till warm and enjoy.
Why do you need to make this gluten-free manakish today?
- Easy to make GF dough with simple ingredients, no yeast no proofing of the dough is required.
- Can be easily cooked in a pan, with no oven required.
- Healthy, Vegan, and gluten-free.
If you like this recipe and looking for more Vegan recipes inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine, make sure to check the below vegan breakfast recipe at VBA:
- Vegan eggs and potato recipe.
- Oatmeal recipe.
- Rice pudding.
- vermicelli rice recipe.
Give this recipe a try and let me know in the comments section what you think.
Zaatar Manakish recipe
This recipe is for a Gluten-free zaatar manakish which is a famous Middle Eastern breakfast dish. It's Vegan, gluten-free, and delicious.
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Arabic, Middle East cuisine
Servings 8 Manakish
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free flour blend 300 grams
- 1 cup coconut yogurt 280 grams
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp olive oil for the dough
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅔ cup zaatar mix
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
Start by combining the Zaatar and olive oil in a medium bowl and mix. Set aside and start prepping the dough.
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
To the same bowl add the coconut yogurt and olive oil. Mix with a wooden spoon first till everything is somehow combined, then mix with your fingers and form a large ball.
Cut the dough ball in half and then cut each half into 4 equal-sized balls.
Flour your surface and press down the ball with your finger to flatten it and try to shape it into a circle.Don't make it too thin as it might break.
Heat a pan on high heat and add a few drops of olive oil then carefully place the dough in the pan.
Cook on one side for one minute then flip it on the other side.
Add 2-3 tsp of the Zaatar and oil mixture to the dough and spread it and let it cook for 2 minutes. once the dough is cooked, transfer it to a plate.
Repeat the same process for all the remaining dough balls. Serve and enjoy.
Keyword vegan breakfast, Zaatar, Zaatar manakish
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