5 Unique and Simple Ways to Dress Up your Manakeesh

posted on: Oct 2, 2024

By: Monica Haddad / Arab America Contributing Writer

Hailing from Lebanon, Manakeesh are a popular flatbread eaten throughout the Arab world, especially for breakfast. Manoushe is traditionally flatbread dough topped with cheese or Zaatar (thyme mix). We all know Mankeesh is delicious, it is perfect just the way it is, I will not argue against that.

If you are a Manakeesh purist, you can stick to strictly the traditional toppings, but if you are looking to switch it up and try something new, here is a list of 5 ways to dress up this fluffy breakfast bread, drawing inspiration from around the Arab World. As if you needed any more incentive, as a bonus, they’re all vegetarian!!! 

Below I have provided a basic manakeesh recipe with measurements included if you don’t have a sixth sense for these things like your teta. 

Basic Manakeesh recipe (makes 8 six-inch flatbreads):

Dough Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups all purpose flour (plus more for rolling)
• 1.5 cups bread flour
• 2 tbsps olive oil plus extra 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup of warm water (alternatively 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup milk)
• 1 tbsp yeast
• 1 tsp sugar 
• 2 tbsp yogurt 

Instructions: 

1. In a large bowl, add the warm water (or warm water milk mix). Next add the sugar and yeast, mix and allow the yeast to bloom.
2. When the yeast has bloomed add the yogurt, olive oil, flour, and salt and mix together until a dough forms
3. Knead the dough for 10 minutes and cover in an oiled bowl to rest and rise for around an hour until the dough size is doubled.
4. Now form your dough into evenly sized balls, you can make eight 6-inch balls or make less/more depending on the size you like your manakeesh, up to you! Roll your dough balls out on a floured surface until they are circular flatbread shaped and place any toppings you plan to bake on your manakeesh at this time. 
5. Set the oven to the highest temperature it gets to and place your flatbread on a baking pan and bake for around 5-7 minutes or until golden. 

5 Manakeesh Topping Ideas:

1. Knafeh Inspired

We all love the delicious cheese filled shredded dough soaked in syrup and sprinkled with pistachios, no matter how you pronounce it, knafeh is beloved throughout the Arab World. This Manakeesh modification draws from the flavors of knafeh. Simply make a regular cheese Manakeesh and drizzle with a rose sugar syrup and chopped pistachios for a sweet treat to enjoy with your shai in the morning. If you’re feeling extra fun, dye the dough orange with knafeh coloring. 

2. Ful Medames 

For this Egyptian-inspired Manakeesh, take your plain Manakeesh dough and top with olive oil, cumin, and chopped garlic before baking. When done, top with ful medames (canned or homemade, we don’t judge here!). The Brits could learn a thing or two from this superior version of beans on toast.

3. Muhammara

Coming from the Arabic word for red, ahmar, this Syrian walnut and red pepper spread belongs topped on the Manakeesh of those who love their spice. 

4. Zaalouk

This spiced tomato and eggplant cooked salad hailing from Morocco would be perfect either baked onto the Manakeesh or spread on top after baking.

5. Sharmoula

This Libyan salad consisting of diced tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, lemon, and olive oil is the perfect fresh and light topping for a cheese or zaatar manakeesh. 

Give these modifications a try!

The Arab world is full of rich and diverse flavors and I hope you will try some of these different flavors from around the Arab World paired with your Lebanese flatbread. Whether you call this bread Manakeesh or Manaeesh in your 3rabi dialect or don’t know Arabic at all, all that I ask is that you don’t call it “Lebanese pizza”.

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