Manooshe (Za'atar Flatbread)

Name: Manooshe (Za'atar Flatbread)
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 8 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 65g strong spelt flour; 35ml cold water; 0,5g active dry yeast; 0,75g pink Himalayan salt; Extra virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds; 2 tablespoons oregano; 4 tablespoons sumac; 2 tablespoons marjoram; 2 tablespoons thyme; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

Pizzas & savoury bakes

Be the first to rate it!

Today I'm making manooshe, a flatbread you might know as Arabic za'atar pizza that I cook right in the skillet, without even turning on the oven. For the dough, I use strong spelt flour, water, yeast, and salt, then finish it off with extra virgin olive oil and a homemade sumac spice mix.

What I love about this za'atar flatbread is how it pairs a simple base with fragrant herbs, toasted sesame seeds, and that lovely tangy kick from the sumac. The strong flour makes the dough really easy to work with, so it's a great project if you want to try your hand at kneading bread at home. I love having it warm, eating it with my hands or sharing it as an appetizer; these dough quantities make one serving.

If you're in the mood to keep kneading, I recommend my Skillet pizza and my Whole spelt and roasted pumpkin pizza.

Prep: 60 minCook: 8 minServes: 1

Share on WhatsApp

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need

65g strong spelt flour
35ml cold water
0,5g active dry yeast
0,75g pink Himalayan salt
Extra virgin olive oil

For the Za'atar

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoons oregano
4 tablespoons sumac
2 tablespoons marjoram
2 tablespoons thyme
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

Step by step

Method

1Grind the sesame seeds in a spice grinder and mix them with the rest of the za'atar ingredients; set aside.
2Add all the dough ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
3Knead until you get a soft, pliable dough.
4Shape into small balls and let rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
5Once rested, flatten and stretch the dough out like mini pizzas, then cook them in a hot skillet.
6When cooked through, mix the za'atar with olive oil and brush it generously over the tops.
7And that's it! Now we can enjoy our MANOOSHE (ZA'ATAR FLATBREAD)

Frequently asked questions

Can manooshe be frozen once cooked?

Yes, let it cool completely and wrap it tightly so it doesn't dry out. Thaw it in the fridge and warm it up for a few minutes in a skillet over gentle heat.

Can I use store-bought za'atar instead of making it from scratch?

Yes, you can use a ready-made za'atar blend and stir it into extra virgin olive oil. Check if it already contains salt before adding any, and keep in mind that the herb-to-sumac ratios vary by brand.

Is this spelt za'atar flatbread gluten-free?

No, spelt contains gluten. To make it gluten-free, you would need a certified gluten-free yeast bread flour blend and adjust the hydration; you cannot swap the flour one-to-one without tweaking the recipe.