Za'atar Cheese Bites
A middle eastern take on pizza bites. Gooey mozzarella coated in a crisp dough topped with a flavourful za'atar oil. Best served warm with a garlicky dip or hummus!
Servings: 30 bites
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup oil or more as needed
- 6 tbsp za'atar seasoning mix (see below to make your own za'atar)
- 2 tsp dried garlic granules
- pinch salt
- 1 ball mozzarella cheese, diced to appox. 1 inch cubes approx. 340g
- 1 batch basic 10 minute dough see recipe linked below
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425F
- Set up a dipping station: in a small shallow bowl place the oil, and in another small shallow bowl mix the za'atar and garlic granules with a pinch of salt. Set aside.
- Dice the mozzarella cheese and set aside.
- Take a small golfball sized ball of dough and flatten to a disk. Place a mozzarella cube into the dough and bring up all the edges of the dough around the mozzarella. Pinch the dough shut making sure to seal it well.
- Holding it from the seam side, dip the stuffed dough ball into the oil. Then into the za'atar mixture so the top and sides get well coated with seasoning.
- Place the prepared dough ball into a baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining dough. Making sure the dough balls are at least 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake at 425F for 12-15 minutes until they become golden brown on the outside.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving so there are no steaming cheese filling disasters!
- Best served warm and with a garlicky dip. If they do cool down they might become a bit more crisp on the outside and you wont get as nice of a cheese pull when you eat it. But a quick preheat in the oven or microwave will bring it back.
Notes
10-Minute Dough Recipe here. Or use store bought pizza dough.
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To make your own za'atar mix together:
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- 1 tablespoon dried thyme- crushed (or sub oregano)
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- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
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- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
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- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
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- 1 tablespoon sumac
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- ½ teaspoon salt