MAN'OUSHE WITH ZA'ATAR OIL, TOMATOES, AND CUCUMBER

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

You can serve these Lebanese flatbreads, brushed with a rich Middle Eastern-spiced oil as is, or wrapped around a filling.

Provided by Reem Assil

Categories Bon Appétit Lebanon Spice Flat Bread Bread Mint Cucumber Appetizer

Yield Makes 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

Dough:
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal or 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
3 1/4 cups bread flour, plus more for surface
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more
Za'atar oil and assembly:
1/4 cup za'atar
1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Bread flour (for dusting)
1/4 English hothouse cucumber, halved, thinly sliced
1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
1/4 cup mint leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Steps:

Dough:
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.
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.
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.
Za'atar oil and assembly:
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.
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.
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.
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.