Mankoushe how I miss you!

Sometimes it gets to me like a strike, the smell of dough and fresh thyme would trigger my senses like if I was walking by a “fern” in the street (communal oven: referred to the location where the mankoushe is baked).
Mankoushe is a typical Lebanese dough similar to a flatbread or pita, it is usually topped with herbs, cheese or meat. You can have it folded, wrapped or open at breakfast or lunch since it would make you feel full & satisfied. You can find it in the “fern” (communal oven) in almost every street at a very cheap price (1$).

Yes, it is street food and my favorite… 🙂

When we were kids, my grandma used to take me with my brother to the “fern” every time we had a sleepover, usually early Sunday mornings before the family lunch gathering. Over the years, I used to have the Mankoushe wrap with Zaatar (thyme blend) and vegetables (tomato, cucumber, mint & olives) at school every Fridy until a fern/restaurant opened next to my school and we went over after school day, this restaurant made it big: Zaatar W Zweit.

Ingredients:
500 g Flour (little more for dusting)
1 tbs Sugar
1 tbs Salt
1/2 cup lukewarm Water
2 tbs active dry yeast
Topping 1: Zaatar Blend made from dried thyme, sumac, sesame seed, olive oil
Topping 2: cheese mix
Topping 3: tomato paste and chilli
Topping 4: chicken, pickles, cheese, aioli paste

1. Mix the water, sugar, and yeast and keep aside for 5 minutes, until you get a foam on top.
2. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl and make a whole in the center to add the year water mixture.
3. Mix with your hand all ingredients till you get a soft sticky dough (I don’t usually use the robot but I wear plastic gloves)
4. Remove the dough from the bowl and work it again on a lightly floured surface. Divide it into small balls then flatten/stretch each ball and roll it into wide circles, finally press in with your fingertips to make room for the topping.
5. Preheat a pan over medium high heat and put the flatbread until side get brownish spots.
6. Flip to the other side and add the topping of your choice than fold, wrap or keep it open.

My favorite mix: Zaatar mix on one side and a cheese mix on the other then I fold it.

Enjoy the taste of this easy homemade recipe!

The Urban Apron