Man'ooshe Lebanese Flatbread

Each month, I eagerly look forward to finding out which blog I am assigned to for The Secret Recipe Club.  This month was no exception.  I was assigned to Simply.Food, described as "a vegetarian kitchen dedicated to "simple" home cooking".

I'll admit, at first I was a little intimidated by the thought of a vegetarian blog, especially since Mike and I do eat meat.  As I browsed through the vast collection of recipes, I was still a bit intimidated because the majority of Nayna's recipes are Indian and contain quite a few ingredients that I am not familiar with.  However, I pushed my initial intimidation aside and decided to branch out and try something I might not have attempted otherwise.

I made my usual list of recipes that looked delicious.  When it came time to narrow down my list, I was drawn to the recipe for Man'ooshe Lebanese Flatbread.  This flatbread is widely available in Lebanon and is often topped with a spread called Za'tar, vegetables, salads, or it can be used as a base for a pizza.  With options like that, I simply couldn't resist trying it!

I found the flatbread to be quite simple to make.  I choose to make mine slightly larger that Nayna's recipe, so I ended up with 8 flatbreads.  I think mine were the perfect size though!  I served my flatbread for dinner the other night.  My friends and husband absolutely loved it.  I'll be sharing the recipes I used to fill the flatbread later this week.

Man'ooshe Lebanese Flatbread

Makes 8

You will need:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon quick yeast
1 cup hot water (100-110 degrees)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic paste

1. In a large bowl combine the flour,salt, yeast and sugar.

2. Add the water a little at a time and mix to make a dough that is soft and pliable.

3.Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 2-3 minutes gradually adding the oil until it is combined and a soft dough is formed.

4. Return the dough to the bowl and cover with a clean towel.  Set it aside in a warm place to rise until double, about 2-3 hours.

5. Once the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and place it on a floured surface.

6.  Add the garlic paste and  knead again for 2-3 minutes.

7. Dive the dough into 8 pieces and roll each out into a 8 inch round.  (Or as round as possible!)

8. Heat a skillet or griddle and place the flatbread on it. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip it and cook for 2-3 minutes more until golden brown spots appear on it.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Source:  Simply.Food