Manakish or Manaeesh[1] (Arabic: مناقيش; sometimes called معجنات, ma-ujna'at, "pastry") is a Levantine food consisting of dough topped with cheese or thyme or ground meat, but used widely in many Levantine countries. Similar to a pizza, it can be sliced or folded, and it can either be served for breakfast or lunch. the word manakish is the plural of the word mankousheh in Arabic.
Thyme (Arabic: زعتر, za'atar). The most popular one has thyme topping, which is served for breakfast with vegetables and/or red tea. The thyme itself is a vegetarian nutrient obtained from ground thyme leaves, and this powder with tiny edible sesame seeds is made into a paste with olive oil.
Cheese (Arabic: جبنة, jubna). Another type has Akkawi cheese toppings instead, but it is a bit more expensive than the thyme manakish.
Minced Lamb (Arabic: لحم بعجين, laham ba'ajiyn, "meat in dough", Sfiha). Other manakish are served for lunch because of their heavy contents. This popular manakish has lamb topping. The minced lamb is mixed with tiny pieces of diced tomato and vegetable oil, and this manakish is optionally served with ground pepper or, especially in Lebanon, pickles and yoghurt.
Pizza. This is not a regular manakish, however the pizza manakish is among the top-selling lunch appetizers. It is available in a small size (diameter less than three inches) and there is also the medium size. The pizza topping basically consists of mozzarella cheese, chopped olive, and tomato paste. (Ham can also be added.)
Mix/Cocktail. This is a manakish with each half covered with a different topping. This could either be cheese and thyme or cheese and minced meat.
Labneh. This manakish is different because in most cases the Labneh is spread after the dough is baked in the oven to prevent drying.
Cheese and Turkey. Popular around the university areas in Lebanon.
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