Sourdough Mannaeesh

Donna M.'s Note:

Mannaeesh is a Middle Eastern favorite. It is lightly leavened to produce a soft bread that puffs and forms a hollowed pouch into which all sorts of yummy things may be stuffed. This is fun to bake and fun to eat. From "World Sourdoughs From Antiquity" by Ed Wood.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 3 hrs
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 10 Puffs

• 4 cups proofed sourdough starter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup water (75 to 85 deg. F)
• 5 cups white bread flour
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Measure starter into large mixing bowl.
2. Add salt and sugar to the warm water and stir briefly to dissolve.
3. Add this mixture to the starter and mix well.
4. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring until it is too stiff to mix by hand.
5. Turn onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour until dough is satiny.
6. Divide into 10 equal balls.
7. Roll the balls into flat rounds about 1/4 inch thick.
8. Proof the rounds, covered, at 85 degrees F for 1 to 2 hours.
9. Mix the olive oil, thyme, marjoram, and sesame seeds together and spread some on the surface of each round.
10. Preheat the oven and the baking sheet to 450 degrees F and using a large spatula, slide the rounds onto the heated baking sheet one at a time.
11. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until the rounds puff up suddenly, forming a central cavity.
12. Cool on wire racks.
13. NOTE: This recipe can be halved and made in the bread machine on the dough cycle.
14. Shape and bake as above.

Reviews

[Podkayne]

I think that I over-kneaded... I'm a terrible judge of dough, and wasn't sure if it was "satiny," so I kneaded until I started to get a "window pane," but that was definitely too much: they didn't puff much, except at the edges, and they were pretty chewy. However, they were delicious, especially with some salt sprinkled on with the herbs and sesame seeds! I will try this again, and knead less, and see what happens.

[Iceland]

Really nice. I rolled them like scones and we had them for breakfast. Thanks for sharing, i love when my sourdough works probably! I only used salt for seasoning but served with fresh tomato, coriander and basil.

[susie1973]

Tasted very good and easy to make. Only they didn't puff up as I thought they should. But that could be because of my elevation of about 7000 ft and maybe bec. of my sourdough starter (which I am feeding and using since 2 yrs.)Maybe I need a new starter. I will definatly try them again.