Middle Eastern Thyme Breads

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon yeast
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup thyme leaves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground sumac
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Recipe

• 1 for topping, dry roast sesame seeds in a small frying pan for 3 minutes until golden.
• 2 cool and grind seeds in a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
• 3 add thyme leaves, sumac and salt and combine.
• 4 combine honey and water in a large bowl.
• 5 sprinkle with the yeast and stand in a warm place for 5 minutes until foamy.
• 6 stir in plain flour, salt, oil and 1 cup of the wholemeal flour until combined, then add remaining flour and knead until a stiff dough forms.
• 7 turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 15 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic.
• 8 place dough in a large lightly oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat in oil.
• 9 cover and stand in a warm spot for 2 hours.
• 10 dough will double in volumne.
• 11 knock dough down, tip onto lightly floured surface and knead lightly til smooth.
• 12 divide into 16 portions.
• 13 roll each portion into a 5cm x 12 cm oval.
• 14 place them on a baking paper lined tray covered with a tea towel as you work.
• 15 heat a heavy based frypan over medium heat.
• 16 brush or spray pan lightly with oil.
• 17 cook breads, in batches, for 1 minute each side, then place on oven trays.
• 18 brush breads with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sesame-herb topping.
• 19 bake in a 200 degree c oven for 5 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
• 20 serve warm with lebanese foods.