Manakeesh
Photo: Nsaum75 · CC BY-SA 3.0

History

Manakish, spelled manaqeesh in Abu Dhabi, is a Levantine pastry of dough topped with za'atar, cheese or ground meat, eaten at breakfast or lunch. Women traditionally baked the dough in a communal oven in the morning, and Lebanon had the practice inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2023. Migrants from across the Arab world brought the oven and the bread to Abu Dhabi, where it sits beside Emirati breakfast breads. The Michelin Guide notes a queue for manaqeesh and fresh bread at Al Farah, and Zaatar and Karak bakes manakish on Hudayriyat Island.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Sesame, Milk

Make it at home

Yield Makes 6Hands-on 30 minTotal 1 hr 45 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 400g plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 250ml warm water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the topping
  • 6 tablespoons za'atar
  • Or 200g akkawi or mozzarella cheese for a cheese topping

Method

  1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add the water and oil and knead for 8 minutes into a soft dough.
  2. Cover and prove for 1 hour until doubled. Heat the oven to its highest setting with a baking sheet inside.
  3. Divide into 6 balls and roll each to a 15cm disc. Press dimples into the surface with your fingertips.
  4. Mix the za'atar with 6 tablespoons of olive oil and spread it over the discs, leaving a rim. For cheese, top with the grated cheese.
  5. Bake on the hot sheet for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges are golden. Serve warm and folded.

Tip from the editors. Press dimples all over the dough so the oil and za'atar pool in them, and bake on a preheated sheet for a crisp base.

Where to eat manakeesh

Manakeesh in Abu Dhabi

Al Farah ★ 4.2

$ Middle EasternAl KhalidiyaUntil Sun-Thu 00:30, Fri-Sat 01:30

Al Farah on Khalidiyah Street in Abu Dhabi bakes manaqeesh from the oven and stays open until 00:30 on weekdays and 01:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

TryManaqeesh from the oven

TipClosing is at 00:30 from Sunday to Thursday and 01:30 on Friday and Saturday, so a late manaqeesh run is possible.

Directions

Zaatar and Karak ★ 4.0

$ Middle EasternHudayriyat Island

Zaatar and Karak is a food truck on Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi, baking manakish and saj wraps and pouring karak tea, open 24 hours on the island's listing.

TryManakish and karak tea

TipYalla names the spiced karak as the reason people return, and the truck also sells seafood dishes such as lobster and oysters.

Directions

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