Sourdough Mannaeesh

Mannaeesh is a Middle Eastern favorite. It is lightly leavened to produce a soft bread that puffs and forms a hollowed pouch into which all sorts of yummy things may be stuffed. This is fun to bake and fun to eat. From "World Sourdoughs From Antiquity" by Ed Wood.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Yields: 10 Puffs

Ingredients

• 4  cups  proofed  sourdough starter
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  tablespoon sugar
• 1  cup water (75 to 85 deg. F)
• 5  cups white bread flour
• 5  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  teaspoon dried thyme
• 1  teaspoon marjoram
• 3  tablespoons sesame seeds

Directions

1. Measure starter into large mixing bowl.
2. Add salt and sugar to the warm water and stir briefly to dissolve.
3. Add this mixture to the starter and mix well.
4. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring until it is too stiff to mix by hand.
5. Turn onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour until dough is satiny.
6. Divide into 10 equal balls.
7. Roll the balls into flat rounds about 1/4 inch thick.
8. Proof the rounds, covered, at 85 degrees F for 1 to 2 hours.
9. Mix the olive oil, thyme, marjoram, and sesame seeds together and spread some on the surface of each round.
10. Preheat the oven and the baking sheet to 450 degrees F and using a large spatula, slide the rounds onto the heated baking sheet one at a time.
11. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until the rounds puff up suddenly, forming a central cavity.
12. Cool on wire racks.
13. NOTE: This recipe can be halved and made in the bread machine on the dough cycle.
14. Shape and bake as above.