Manakish-inspired pizza
Growing up, this was my favorite on-the-go snack to share with my friends. Steaming, hot flat bread, folded & flavored with the most delicious za’atar and olive oil. Also, on weekends, my dad would bring home some from a nearby bakery, popular for savory snacks. Those pies definitely tasted extra special! The pie that I have shared here has vegan cheese, baby broccoli, zucchini, onions, tomatoes & a generous topping of zaatar-olive oil mix.
For the dough
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 tsp sugar
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
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Ingredients for the topping
8 tbsp zaatar+1/2 cup olive oil, combined
1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing veggies)
2 medium size onion, thinly sliced
2 small bunches of steamed broccolini - about 6 cups
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1-1/2 cups dairy free mozzarella or more if you like more cheese
1 large zucchini, diced
Salt
1 tsp or more dried red chili flakes
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Instructions for topping
Heat a skillet & add 1 tbsp olive oil
Add 4 cloves of minced garlic, stir for 10 seconds
Now add sliced onions & sauté for 5-7 minutes.
Add diced zucchini, salt & sauté on medium heat for another 5-7 minutes
Turn off heat, set aside
Instructions for manakish dough
In a bowl, mix water, sugar & yeast. Set aside for 7-10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and olive oil. Combine well with your hands. Now, make a tiny well in the middle of the flour mix and pour in the yeast and water mixture. Knead until soft dough forms. Continue kneading for 7-10 minutes. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle some more flour to help.
Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and place in a warm place for about 2 hours.
Knead the dough again and make 8 balls and arrange on a lightly floured tray. Cover and let it rest for another 30 minutes .
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Instructions for the pie
Preheat the oven to 400°F .
Once the dough balls have rested for 30 minutes, flatten them each into 5-7 inch discs, arrange on a lined baking sheet.
Spoon about a tbsp of the zaatar-olive oil mix in the center & spread well, leaving a thin border around.
Bake in a preheated oven for 7-8 minutes (until the edges have browned)
Remove from oven, reduce temp to 375° F. Spoon toppings (prepared veggies), diced tomatoes, dairy free cheese and bake again for 5-7 minutes (until the cheese has started to melt)
