Za'atar Pull-Apart Bread
 
 
Makes 1 9" round loaf (18-20 rolls)
Ingredients
Dough:
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 whole egg + 1 egg white (reserve yolk for finish)
Filling and finish:
  • 5 tablespoons za'atar
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Make the dough:
  1. In a large bowl, heat milk until warm - about 30 seconds in the microwave should do. Add the yeast and sugar. Whisk together until thoroughly combined and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add the rest of the dough ingredients (butter through eggs) to the milk mixture, stirring everything until it comes together to form a shaggy ball. Then knead the dough by hand (or with a dough hook attachment) until it’s smooth and elastic - this will take about 10 minutes (or less if using a stand mixer). Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let it rise until doubled in size, 1-2 hours.
Make the filling:
  1. While the dough rises, combine the za'atar and olive oil in a small bowl.
Shape and bake the loaf:
  1. Grease a 9" springform pan.
  2. After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide into 4 equal pieces.
  3. Divide one portion of dough into 4 equal pieces. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece into a circle, about 6-7 inches in diameter, and top with about 1 teaspoon filling, spreading it toward the edges. Stack the four circles on top of one another and roll up into a log; pinch seam to seal. Set aside and repeat with remaining portions of dough for a total of 4 logs.
  4. Use a serrated knife and cut each log into 4-5 V-shaped pieces; the point of the V should measure about ¾" and the base should measure about 1¾".
  5. Arrange the pieces, cut sides up, in the springform pan.
  6. Cover loaf with a clean kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  7. About 15 minutes before dough has finished rising, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  8. Brush top of loaf with remaining filling and egg wash and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until golden.
  9. Remove pan from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Then remove ring and transfer loaf to a wire rack. Let cool slightly before serving.
Recipe by Two of a Kind at http://www.twoofakindcooks.com/zaatar-pull-apart-bread/