Zaatar Toast With Poached Eggs Labneh And Chili Oil Food

AUTHENTIC ZA'ATAR SPICE RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.
• For the most flavor, toast whole seeds (cumin seeds and coriander seeds) until fragrant, then grind. This will make the most flavorful zaatar. If you don't have whole seeds, feel free to use ground spices.

ZA'ATAR BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 3 cups flour and salt. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes. Grease a large bowl. Place dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Divide dough into 16 equal pieces and form into rounds. Roll into 1/4-inch-thick circles. Poke rounds with your fingers to create small indentations.
• Mix za'atar and olive oil together in a small bowl. Spread over circles. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dough is golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes.

ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients into a spice grinder and pulse until a powder is formed, about 30 to 45 seconds. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl.
• Available at Middle Eastern markets and by mail order from Kalustyan's (212-685-3451).

ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Lightly toast the cumin seeds in a dry pan, just until they start to release their aroma. Grind them to a fine powder using a pestle and mortar then stir in all the other ingredients plus 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper. It is now ready to use in your recipes, but will keep in a clean jar or airtight container for a month.

ZA'ATAR TOAST WITH POACHED EGGS, LABNEH AND CHILI OIL

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Bring a large skillet of water to a boil.
• Thinly slice the cucumbers on a mandoline. Combine the cucumbers, parsley and dill in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Put the bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of the bread with the olive oil and broil until toasted and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Top the toast with a generous amount of the za'atar, cut each slice in half on a cutting board and set the slices back on the baking sheet.
• Put the yogurt in a medium bowl. Stir in the juice and zest of 1 of the lemons. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Crack an egg into a fine-mesh strainer, straining out the thin egg white. Reduce the heat under the skillet until the water just simmers, and place the egg directly into the water. Repeat with 3 more eggs. Cook until the whites are set and the yolks still feel a bit runny when you delicately push down on them with your index finger, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon or spider and put them on a paper-towel lined plate to drain any excess water. Repeat with the remaining 4 eggs.
• Peel the zest off the remaining second lemon with a vegetable peeler. Thinly slice the zest into fine julienne and set aside for garnish.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the juice of 1/2 of the peeled lemon to the medium bowl with the cucumbers and herbs. (Reserve the remaining lemon half for another use.) Season with kosher salt and pepper and toss.
• Dollop and then swoop a generous amount of the labneh mixture into a shallow bowl or deep plate. (To achieve a gorgeous swoop, use the back of a spoon.) Top with 2 poached eggs, drizzle with chili oil, if using, and place a nice handful of cucumber-and-herb salad next to the eggs. Rest 2 toast halves on the side of the bowl. Garnish with flaky sea salt, freshly cracked pepper and the julienned lemon zest. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.