MANAKISH: THYME + CHEESE PIES

Formally known as ‘manakish’, nothing tastes more like home to us than these breakfast pies.

As most of you already know, I am one who loves being in the kitchen.  Whether it be something I stumbled upon, or an old family recipe, I always have the best time making things that people can enjoy.  Sundays are usually my go-to day to grab brunch, but I was feeling very homesick a few weeks ago and decided to make the easy version of ‘manakish’.  These are cheese, zaatar, and egg pies that my grandmother used to make for us from scratch when we were growing up and are famously known around the Arab world.

Knowing that I couldn’t make them as good as my grandmother (‘Taita’), I decided to take a few short cuts.  Thankfully they satisfied my cravings for a home away from home brunch.

A few notes: You can find zaatar and Nabulsi cheese at any Mediterranean grocery.  If you’re local, try Halal International Market. Also note that Nabulsi cheese is salty, so soak it in water before you crumble it.  If you’re running short on time, combine it with some mozzarella to tone the salt down.

If you make your own pizza dough, use that recipe for the base.  I used pre-made dough, and it turned out just fine.

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