What goes by kaak is usually either a dry bread or roll or a biscuit, more often than not covered with sesame seeds. This kaak includes some zaatar in the batter and is savory and can be made in a jiffy in a mixer or processor. Perfect for something to nibble on with a drink and some olives, perhaps.
INGREDIENTS: Makes about 40
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1/3 cup of zaatar mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of oil (olive oil or vegetable oil)
- 1/2 cup of lightly toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice
METHOD:
- Place the flour, zaatar, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Mix to combine; add the orange juice and oil and mix for a couple of minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time and mix well until a dough forms. Gather and transfer to a sheet of foil and set aside for 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Form walnut-sized balls of dough and line them up on a sheet of wax paper. Place the sesame seeds on a plate. Dip the balls into the sesame seeds and shape into a finger, tie the finger at both ends into a ring and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 12 minutes or until the kaak is golden and dry. Serve when cooled with a drink and other nibbles.
22 Comments
Very interesting, and this sounds delicious!
Delicious looking biscuits! I am a big fann of za’atar.
cheers,
Rosa
I agree with Kaylyn! I love breads with sesame seeds added as well. The recipe looks straightforward and the photos, as usual, look very inviting. I’m a little terrified of baking–something I have to get over one day–I’m bookmarking this to make in the future.
Kudos!
Alaiyo
I love the savory snacks! What a great recipe!
Don´t know zaatar so I have googled it and found out it´s a mixture of spices but you can find several recipes, each one is a mixture of different spices. Could you please write me what the content of your zaatar is?
They make a great afternoon snack!
@Astheart: Indeed, zaatar is a mixture of spices varying from one country in the Levant to another; in Lebanon, it is a mixture of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. I would encourage you to sample a mix and see if you like it, it is always mixed with olive oil and usually eaten with yogurt cheese (labneh) and bread. The Aleppo zaatar, for instance, has cumin and a mixture of ground nuts in it.
http://www.tasteofbeirut.com/2009/10/zaatar/
Mmmmmmm
A plate of these around the house could be dangerous!
Sounds delicious! Would love to try one of these donut shaped zaatar kaak but the spices are difficult to get here!
Looks delicious Joumana ! have a good week…
note: This is available on Amazon for $5 U.S.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PBZJF6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3GOGORUZX1MT2
@Mark: Thanks so much, your input is always appreciated very very much~~!!
Very cool – a savory snack that’s baked! My first instinct, was “oh that looks time consuming,” but not at all. Glad to see that zaatar can be found online.
Awwww, honestly I love you like family and would not be at all surprised to find that we are indeed Lebanese family somewhere in the past.
Mark:
I agree!I have an Italian/Croatian grandmother to add to the mix
I’m hosting a giveaway over at my blog and would love for you to stop by and participate.
http://www.myhobbielobbie.com/2012/05/my-200th-blog-post-and-my-1st-ever.html
Looking forward to seeing you there.
I used to eat kaak many years ago when I lived in Damascus and I love za’atar. So the combination of both sounds heavenly. Thanks for the recipe. I am definitely going to make it.
They look so tasty! I love snacks with sesame seed.
Joumana, These look so appetizing…I love zaatar! Something else to put on my to make list!
Excellent pour un apéro avec un ” cercle ” d’amis…
Je ne trove plus dans votre web la recette du “Zaatar and olives bread”. C´est dommage, car je l´avais fait il y ha quelque mois et on a aimé beaucoup à la maison.
Merci pour votre generosite, j´aime bien vous lire dès îles Canaries.