Zaatar flatbread is a simple flatbread flavored with a Middle Eastern spice blend called the Za'atar which is a mixture of sumac, thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, and salt.
As the last flatbread in this series, I have the Za'atar Flatbread which is a simple flatbread topped with a very flavorful Middle Eastern Spice blend called the Za'atar. Za'atar is a spice blend made with sumac, thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, and salt and it comes as a spice mix that is available in a Middle Eastern store.
I happened to buy the Zaatar pack a few months ago to give it a try but never used it until yesterday. When making my recipe list for the A to Z International Flatbread series, I knew that I was going to make a flatbread with Za'atar.
If you are not looking to make the flatbread from scratch, you could use a store-bought pita and smear it with the Zaatar and olive oil mixture and pop it in the oven for a couple of minutes to make this flatbread. However, I would highly suggest making the flatbread from scratch as it is just so different and flavorful.
The flavor of Za'atar is very acquired. Not everyone can readily accept the flavor and enjoy it. My boys absolutely disliked the flavor of the spice and this was the only flatbread in my whole series that they did not actually enjoy and I had to sort of push them to eat at least a slice.
What did the trick for them to eat it was a few slices of fresh cucumber and tomatoes on top? This way, they at least ate a slice each. Talking about the whole series, this is my last recipe for this month's A to Z International flatbread BM.
As much as I enjoyed baking each and every flatbread, I am sort of ready for it to be done. It was too much flatbread for a month and this constantly gives me a reminder that I should not be waiting until the end to make the dishes and begin early.
My Other recipes in the A-Z International Flatbread Series –
A for Aish Baladi
B for Boulanee Katchalu
C for Chickpea Flatbread / Socca
E for Emirati Khameer
F for Fruit Focaccia
G for Gozleme
H for Himbasha
I for Indian Fry Bread
J for Janta Roti
K for Ka’ak
L for Lepinja
M for Mahjouba
N for Norwegian Crisp Bread
O for Onion and Poppy Seed Pletzel
P for Pol Roti
Q for Qutab
R for Roomali Roti
S for Samoon
T for Taftan bread
U for Uyghur flatbread
V for Veechu Parotta
W for Whole Wheat Phulka
X for Xian Bing
Y for Yufka
Preparation time - 15 minutes
Baking time - 10 to 12 minutes per batch
Difficulty level - Easy
Ingredients to make the Zaatar Flatbread - Makes 4, 6-inch flatbread
- All Purpose flour - 1 ½ cups
- Active dry yeast - 1 tsp
- Sugar - 1 tsp
- Salt - 1 tsp
- Warm Water - as needed to make the dough
- Olive oil - 3 TBSP
- Za'atar spice blend - 2 TBSP
Procedure to make the Zaatar Flatbread -
To make the dough -
- In a bowl, add the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast and mix well. Let the yeast mixture sit for about 10 minutes or until bubbly and frothy.
- In a wide bowl, add the flour and the salt. Add the frothy yeast water and start kneading the dough.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and continue kneading until you have a soft dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rest for at least an hour or until doubled in volume.
To shape and bake the Za'atar Flatbread -
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down gently and divide it into 4 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece into a tight ball and let it sit covered for about 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the Za'atar spice mixture and 2 tablespoon olive oil. Mix well to form a paste
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 425 F and place a pizza stone in the oven when it is preheating. If you don't have a pizza stone, we can just bake it on a baking sheet.
- Roll each ball into a ¼-inch thick circle, about 6 inches wide.
- Using your fingers, spread ¼ of the Za'atar spice mixture on the surface of the rolled dough. Leave a little border around without the spice. Also, make small indentations in the dough when spreading the spice mixture.
- Place the prepared dough on parchment paper to easily slide onto the pizza stone. I was able to place 2 at a time on a piece of parchment.
- Bake the flatbread for about 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown at the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool a bit and then slice and serve. You could top it with fresh cheese or cucumbers and tomatoes.
More Flatbread Ideas
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter/X
Recipe
Za'atar Flatbread
Equipment
- bowl
- Wisk
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup All Purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Warm Water - as needed to make the dough
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Zaatar spice blend
Instructions
To make the dough -
- In a bowl, add the warm water, sugar and active dry yeast and mix well. Let the yeast mixture sit for about 10 minutes or until bubbly and frothy.
- In a wide bowl, add the flour and the salt. Add the frothy yeast water and start kneading the dough.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and continue kneading until you have a soft dough.
- Cover the dough and let it rest for at least an hour or until double in volume.
To shape and bake the Za'atar Flatbread -
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down gently and divide it into 4 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece into a tight ball and let it sit covered for about 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the Za'atar spice mixture and 2 tablespoon olive oil. Mix well to form a paste
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 425 F and place a pizza stone in the oven when it is preheating. If you don't have a pizza stone, we can just bake it on a baking sheet.
- Roll each ball into a ¼ inch thick circle, about 6 inches wide.
- Using your fingers, spread ¼ of the Za'atar spice mixture on the surface of the rolled dough. Leave a little border around without the spice. Also make small indentations in the dough when spreading the spice mixture.
- Place the prepared dough on a parchment paper to easily slide on to the pizza stone. I was able to place 2 at a time on a piece of parchment.
- Bake the flatbread for about 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown at the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool a bit and then slice and serve. You could top it with fresh cheese or cucumbers and tomatoes.
Nikol Mikus says
Can you substitute all purpose flour for gluten free flour?
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Nikol, I have personally not tried it but if you have used gluten free flour in other bakes, it should work for this as well.
David says
Yum, I like the za'atar spice blend. Wow, you really are quite the flatbread expert!
Choclette says
Ooh thank you for reminding me about za'atar flatbread. I haven't made any in years and yet, as you say it's really very easy. I love homemade flatbreads and za'atar is a fabulous spice. Just wish I could tuck into one of your flatbreads right now.
Pavani Nandula says
I don't think I've tasted za'atar till now 🙂 But in any case, that is a delicious looking flatbread - chewy and yummy - almost like a skinny focaccia.
Padmajha PJ says
I have fallen in love with Zaatar and still have a little bit left from the stash Priya sri got us. Your Zaatar bread looks absolutely stunning and love that pic with the slices of tomato and cukes on top!
code2cook says
zaatar bread came out such a stunner. I wish if I could get all these baked breads from you. surely after this BM you must be a pro in baking breads. lovely collection you created.
Renu says
Love the zaatar spice topped flatbread. They look delicious and yum. Want to grab a bite straight from the screen.
Mayuri Patel says
I made these flatbreads for another group challenge and loved them. The zaatar spice is so delicious. Also love how versatile this flatbread is. Lovely clicks Sandhya and really enjoyed your introduction to some unknown flatbreads. Enjoyed your contribution and have bookmarked quite a few.
Srivalli Jetti says
Yes even I didn't like this taste the first time I had..it surely takes time to get used to it. Though on a bread it tastes amazing..wonderful choice and I enjoyed your series Sandhya..
M.Gayathri Raani says
Zaatar is pretty intense so kids would find it tough on their first try. Even I made a pizza with zaatar and my daughter ate just a slice. Not more than that. But I loved it so much that I finished half of it in minutes. Your bread looks amazing Sandhya. I loved the whole flat bread series you did.
Vaishali Sabnani says
Zaatar might be a acquired flavour but this bread looks absolutely stunning and somehow I love These Lebanese flavours .
I can understand how your family must have felt eating bread every day - my family would never eat , one reason why I chose Indian Flatbreads .
But surely a wonderful and interesting theme . I have already tried Socca and we all loved it !
preeti garg says
Wow.. this bread looks so tasty and perfectly baked. love this bread with fresh ingredients such as cucumber and tomato slices.
Priya Suresh says
My younger one is not a great fan of Zaatar mix but still he can have a slice of bread. Those flatbreads looks fabulous and i can finish my meal just with a huge slice of this flatbread and some salads. Well done Sandhya.. Kudos to u for finishing this mega marathon.
harini says
I agree that Z'aatar is not everybody's fav and I understand the feeling when the kids don't like what you made for the blog 🙂 But the bread looks amazing. Congratulations on successfully finishing this mega marathon with so many breads. I have bookmarked so many and my bookmarks folder is overflowing.
Sowmya says
Those zaatar flatbreads look delicious....and I completely agree with you. It is so much better to make the bread from scratch. Lovely way to round up the fabulous marathon!!