Meshtah el Jreesh
Meshtah is a long oval flat bread typical to the South of Lebanon and its name is derived from the Arabic word Ishtah – “to flatten”. Although commonly prepared during Ramadan, Meshtah can be found all year-round in Lebanese bakeries. It is savored with labneh and vegetables.
Ingredients:
3 cups of Jreesh
½ cup of whole grain flour
½ cup of white flour
2 cups of warm water
1 Tbsp. of yeast
1 Tbsp. of fennel powder
1 Tbsp. of Nigella seeds
1 Tsp. of salt
¼ cup of oil
1 Tsp. of sugar
Pinch of turmeric
Preparation steps:
- Soak the Jreesh in a cup of water for about 3h
- After 3 hours, add the remaining ingredients to the soaked Jreesh and make the dough
- Let the dough rest in a warm place for 30mns
- After 30mns, divide the dough into balls
- Stretch each ball into a long « flat bread » and shape it
- Put the bread on oven trays and mark the bread with a spoon. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and leave to rest for 30mns
- Brush the bread with olive oil mixed with turmeric and sprinkle with Nigella seeds
- Bake in a pre-heated oven (180 degrees celcius) for 15mns until the bread is golden
- Let cool and serve with labneh, olives, makdous and vegetables