Manakish facts for kids
Manakish made with za'atar with vegetables on the side
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| Alternative names | Manaqish, manaeesh, manakeesh, manooshe, man'ousheh, mankousheh |
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| Type | Flatbread |
| Course | Breakfast or lunch |
| Place of origin | Syria, Lebanon |
| Main ingredients | Dough, za'atar, cheese or ground meat |
Manakish (pronounced mah-NAH-keesh) is a super yummy flatbread from the Levant region in the Middle East. It's often called man'ousheh when you're talking about just one. This delicious food starts with a flat piece of dough. Then, it's topped with tasty things like za'atar (a special herb mix), cheese, or ground meat.
You can enjoy manakish for breakfast or lunch. It's often sliced into pieces or folded up like a sandwich. Long ago, women would bake dough in big ovens shared by the community. While making bread for their families, they would also prepare smaller manakish for breakfast.
Manakish is very popular in countries like Syria and Lebanon. You can also find it in nearby places and wherever people from the Levant have moved around the world. In 2023, UNESCO (the United Nations' cultural organization) added manakish to its list of important cultural traditions. This shows how special it is to Lebanese food!
What's in a Name?
The word manakish comes from an Arabic word, manqūshah. This word means "to sculpt" or "to carve out." It describes how the dough is prepared. After the dough is rolled flat, bakers gently press their fingertips into it. This creates small dips or hollows. These little spaces are perfect for holding all the yummy toppings!
A Peek into History
We don't know exactly when manakish first appeared. However, old Arab cookbooks from the 900s mention recipes for flatbreads. They also talk about using ingredients like thyme and olive oil. This suggests that foods similar to manakish have been enjoyed for a very long time!
Delicious Toppings!
Manakish can have many different toppings. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Za'atar: This is probably the most famous topping! Za'atar is a special mix of dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and marjoram. It's blended with toasted sesame seeds, salt, and other spices like sumac. The za'atar mix is combined with olive oil and spread onto the dough before baking. Za'atar manakish is a favorite breakfast food in the Levant. It's also great as a snack with mint tea and feta cheese.
- Cheese: Many people love cheese manakish! Two common types of cheese used are akkawi and kashkaval. Sometimes, a little za'atar is added to the cheese to make it even more flavorful.
- Minced Lamb: This topping is often called lahm bi-‘ajīn, which means "meat with dough." It's similar to a dish called sfiha. Manakish with minced lamb is usually eaten for lunch because it's a bit heavier. The lamb is mixed with tiny pieces of tomato and vegetable oil. You can also add ground pepper or eat it with pickles and yogurt.
- Chili: For those who like a little spice, manakish can be topped with chili.
- Kashk: This topping is made from fermented yogurt and finely ground wheat. It can be used by itself or mixed with other things like walnuts or onions.
- Spinach or Swiss Chard: These green veggies are also popular toppings for manakish.
See Also
In Spanish: Manakish para niños
