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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes |
Ready In: 15 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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For more about Zaatar, see my Zaatar Appetizer post. Zaatar Bread is basic pita bread dough that has been docked so that it doesn’t split into a pocket and topped with Olive Oil and the Middle Eastern Spice mixture Zaatar. Read more . It is highly aromatic while baking and a real delight to eat still warm from the oven. We always called this Sumac bread because, more often than not, my grandmother would use ground Sumac instead of or along with Zaatar. My sister is the baker of the family, this is the basic the recipe she uses. I am not much of a baker but I am always right there as the oven door opens just to see if she has her spicing right… ;-)~~ Zaatar bread can be topped with a number of optional ingredients such as chopped fresh Tomato, Roasted Peppers, Parsley, Mint, Crumbled Feta, Chopped Scallions etc. Ingredients:
pita bread |
3 cups white flour |
1 cup warm water |
1 tbsp sugar |
1 tsp salt |
1 tsp active dry yeast |
zaatar spread |
1 cup olive oil |
2 cloves garlic crushed into a paste with a pinch of salt. |
2 tsp lemon zest (more if you like it tart) |
8 tbsp zaatar and/or ground sumac |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degress
2. In a small bowl mix the yeast, the sugar and 1/4 cup warm water. Let the yeast mixture sit for 10 – 12 minutes.
3. Mix the flour and salt in a big bowl and add to the fermented yeast mixture. Start to knead the mixture into dough, while you gradually add the last 3/4 cup warm water. Continue to knead the dough for about 8 minutes , until it turns into a firm, elastic dough. (if it's sticky add 1 or 2 Tbsp flour)
4. Form the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with a towel. Let the dough rise for 1 hour, and then knead it for 2 minutes.
5. Divide the dough into 8 balls. Each one about the size of a Ping-Pong ball. Cover the dough balls with a towel.
6. Roll out each ball gently with a rolling-pin until it is about 1/4 inch thick, and about 7 inches in diameter. Try to keep the pita in as round a shape as possible.
7. Line baking trays with parchment paper, and lightly grease with olive oil. Arrange as many pitas on each tray as possible. With fingertips, make little depressions throughout dough. Also make a small ridge around the perimeter of each dough circle. Stab each pita in a few spots with a fork. (very important step)
8. In a small bowl, combine the garlic paste, lemon zest and Zaatar and/or Sumac. Mix well. Whisk in Olive Oil. Then spread about 3 Tbsp of this mixture on each pita.
9. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes
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