Man'oushe with Za'atar Oil, Tomatoes, and Cucumber

A delicious Middle Eastern flatbread topped with aromatic za'atar oil and fresh vegetables. This traditional Lebanese street food features a soft, chewy bread base drizzled with herb-infused oil and garnished with crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, and fresh mint.

4 servings
2 hr 55 min

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal or 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
  • cups bread flour
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup zaatar
  • ¼ cup bread flour
  • ¼ whole English hothouse cucumber
  • ½ cup grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Whisk sugar, yeast, and 1/2 cup warm water (105°-110°) in a medium bowl until yeast is dissolved. Let sit until foamy, 5-10 minutes.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, whisk salt and 3 1/4 cups flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in yeast mixture, 2 Tbsp. oil, and 3/4 cup warm water. Stir with a wooden spoon from the center out to gradually incorporate dry ingredients until you have a rough, shaggy dough.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Turn out onto a work surface and knead lightly to bring together into a single mass. Continue kneading, adding flour as needed if sticky, until dough is smooth, supple, firm, and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm spot until doubled in size, 1 1/4-1 3/4 hours.

    105 min

  4. 4.

    Place a rack in lower third of oven and set a pizza stone or upside-down rimmed baking sheet on rack (use two sheets side by side if you can fit them); preheat to 500° or highest setting. Stir za'atar and 1/3 cup oil in a small bowl; set aside.

    15 min

  5. 5.

    Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 pieces. Form into smooth balls, dust lightly with flour, and cover. Let sit until relaxed, 10-15 minutes.

    15 min

  6. 6.

    Working with 1 piece at a time, roll balls into 1/4"-thick rounds and flour both sides. Stack rounds, separating with plastic wrap, as you go. Transfer a round to a generously floured pizza peel or an upside-down baking sheet (not the one that's in the oven) and brush one-quarter of za'atar oil all over the surface. Carefully slide dough onto pizza stone and bake until flatbread is puffed in spots and edges are golden brown, 4-5 minutes, depending on oven temperature. Transfer man'oushe to a wire rack; let cool slightly. Repeat with remaining rounds of dough.

    20 min

  7. 7.

    Toss cucumber, tomatoes, mint, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with oil. Spoon over warm man'oushe.

    5 min