Description
Cheese Manakish is a traditional Lebanese flatbread snack topped with a blend of creamy Queso Blanco and stretchy mozzarella cheese. This cozy, flavorful snack features a soft, chewy dough topped with melty cheese and optional savory ingredients like spinach and ground beef. Baked to golden perfection, Cheese Manakish is perfect for a comforting breakfast, lunch, or anytime snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Topping Ingredients
- 1 cup Queso Blanco
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon zaatar
- 1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
- 1 cup ground beef, cooked (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 the ingredients form a sticky dough, then knead for about 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and leave the dough at room temperature for about 2 hours, or until it doubles in size, allowing the yeast to activate and the dough to develop.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it heats properly by the time you shape and top the dough.
- Shape the dough: Divide the risen dough into equal portions and flatten each ball into circles about 5-6 inches wide. Create a small dip in the center of each circle to hold the cheese topping.
- Add the cheese topping: Combine the Queso Blanco and mozzarella cheeses. Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of this cheese mixture into the center of each dough circle, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Optionally, add fresh spinach or cooked ground beef atop the cheese for additional flavor.
- Bake the manakish: Place the topped dough circles on greased baking sheets. Bake them in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes, or until the dough turns lightly golden and becomes crispy underneath while the cheese melts beautifully.
- Cool and serve: Remove the manakish from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the warm, cheesy Lebanese snack fresh from the oven!
Notes
- Ensure the water is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
- You can customize toppings by adding zaatar, fresh herbs, or cooked meats for variety.
- To make the dough crispier, bake a little longer but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Leftover manakish can be reheated in the oven to retain their crispness.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, though texture may vary.
