What flatbread is traditionally topped with za'atar?

What flatbread is traditionally topped with za'atar? Manakish. This popular Levantine flatbread is made from dough spread with za'atar and olive oil before being baked.

Manakish is associated especially with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. The dough may be sliced or folded and is commonly eaten for breakfast or lunch. Za'atar manakish is the best-known version, but other varieties use cheese such as akkawi or kashkaval, or minced meat mixed with tomato and spices.

Za'atar itself is usually a blend involving dried herbs, toasted sesame seeds, salt, and sumac, although recipes differ across regions. The topping is mixed with olive oil into a paste that settles into small dimples pressed into the dough. The name manakish is linked to a root meaning “to sculpt” or “engrave,” referring to those fingertip-made depressions. In 2023, the Lebanese practice of preparing al-man'ouché was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.