Easy Bake for Za'atar Rolls
These Easy Za’atar Rolls bring the flavors of the Mediterranean to your kitchen — puffy, savory, and rich with olive oil and za’atar spice. "Za'atar" is a mix of wild thyme, toasted sesame seeds, and sumac.
Equipment
- 1 Stand Mixer
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 cups of All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon of Instant Yeast
- 1/4 cup of Olive Oil can substitute with Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup of warm Milk
- 1/4 cup of water may not be needed
Filling
- 1/4 cup Za'atar
- 4 tablespoons of Olive Oil add only enough so it's like a paste
Instructions
Make the dough:
- Using a mixer, add the all purpose flour, yeast and olive oil and mix them.
- Add the warmed up milk and mix.
- Then add less than 1/4 cup of water, especially if the dough is looking very dry and not coming together.
- The dough should become soft and can be stretched without breaking apart.
- Divide the dough into two large balls.
- Lightly oil a sheet pan and place the balls on it.
- Then cover with a plastic wrap or wet tea-towel to keep moist.
Prove the dough:
- Prove for 1/2 an hour.
- Prepare the za'atar paste by mixing 1/4 cup za'atar with four tablespoons olive oil in a bowl.
Shape the rolls:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
- Take one of the balls and roll it into a rectangular shape.
- The thickness shouldn't be more than 1/4 of an inch.
- Bring the prepared Za'atar paste (Za'atar + Olive Oil)
- Use a medium spatula to spread the Za'atar and Olive Oil paste evenly over the rolled-out dough starting with the wider side of the dough, leaving a small, clean border on the final edge for sealing (on the long edge of the dough).
- Roll the dough into the shape of a log.
- Make sure you apply slight pressure as you roll to create a tight spiral in the end.
- Use a sharp serrated knife and with a sawing motion cut, but be sure not to use a chopping knife, which can mush the rolls. (some olive oil may leak so keep a paper towel handy by you).
- Cut them into 1 to 1.5 inches wide, depending on how big you'd like them to be.
Bake:
- Place each of the rolls on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper.
- Repeat steps 8-16 with the second ball of dough
- Once you have one baking sheet ready, bake for 10-15 minutes or until the swirls are brown on top.
Serve & store:
- Keep rolls warm with a dry tea towel after baking.
- Once cooled, store in airtight containers or ziplock bags.
- Reheat in the microwave and serve with tea or coffee.
Notes
- You can make these without a stand mixer by performing a series of gentle folds by hand.