Zaatar Scones with labneh
November 9, 2010 • Category: Savory Pastries
I hope my English cousins (twice removed) do not take offense here.
I was just craving some zaatar!
In Lebanon one can easily find zaatar croissants in bakeries and coffee shops, which can be wonderful or not depending on the croissant itself.
Scones are a lot easier to make; split in half, filled with some homemade labneh (yogurt cheese) and a drizzle of olive oil is exactly what a Lebanese expat needs. Accomplished within the hour too.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder + 1 teaspoon
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- dash of salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in even chunks
- 1/2 cup of a mixture of yogurt and water (drop a few tablespoons of yogurt and add some water to get 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 egg, mixed with a teaspoon of water
- zaatar, one tablespoon for the dough and one tablespoon for the topping
- 2 cups of whole milk yogurt
- olive oil, as needed
METHOD:
- To make some quick labneh: Place a sieve over a bowl. Put a paper towel on the sieve and plop a couple of cups of yogurt on the towel. Let the yogurt drain for an hour or overnight. Plop back into a serving bowl, and drizzle olive oil on the yogurt cheese or labneh. This is served every morning for most folks in Lebanon.
- For the scones: Place the flours, baking powder, salt, sugar and zaatar in the bowl of a food processor. Process for 30 seconds to mix all the dry ingredients and aerate the mixture. Add the butter in chunks and pulse the machine a few times until the butter no longer is visible and the mixture becomes like coarse sand.
- Add the yogurt and water mixture and pulse some more (a few seconds) until the dough is moist and somewhat forms into large clumps. Stop the machine, gather the dough and roll out (with hands or rolling pin) till about 1/2 inch thick. Cut with a round cutter into even rounds and set on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Whisk the half egg with a touch of water and add a tablespoon ofzaatar. Dab or brush on the surface of the scones. Preheat the oven to 4ooF (200 C) and when the oven is hot, insert the scones and bake for 15 minutes or so until they are puffed up and dry. (You may need to place the scones on two cookie sheets to prevent the bottom from burning if your oven requires it).
- Cool them a bit and split them in half; plop a good tablespoon of labneh on them and drizzle some olive oil.
To find out more about zaatar, click here
To find out more about labneh, click here
Comments
40 Comments • Comments Feed
PJ says:
That yogurt cheese is making me drool!The scones and the yogurt cheese must be an awesome combo…
On November 9, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Marcela says:
What a wonderful scone’s recipe!!…On Saturday, we went to the Arabic groceries store to buy everything I needed to make some of your recipes……….this Thursday (it is a holiday here in Canada), I will be cooking some of your delights (your scones included!!)…..I will let you know when I will post them!!……Abrazotes, Marcela
On November 9, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Cheftometrist says:
I know exactly what you mean by a zaatar craving! 🙂 These scones look *fabulous*! So clever to fill them with labneh.
On November 9, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Alfonso says:
those look fantastic!
On November 10, 2010 at 12:54 am
Maria @ Scandifoodie says:
I love this! I can imagine how delicious those scones would be with labneh, so good!
On November 10, 2010 at 1:07 am
Karen says:
What a great way to use za’atar!! Will have to try soon!
On November 10, 2010 at 1:50 am
Rosa says:
Very original! I love your Lebanese version of that English speciality.
Cheers,
Rosa
On November 10, 2010 at 2:38 am
Katerina says:
I like the idea of filling these scones with yogurt. Great idea for a healthy breakfast.
On November 10, 2010 at 3:22 am
john@heneedsfood says:
How could anybody take offence to something so delicious? I want some now!
On November 10, 2010 at 6:38 am
peter says:
A wonderful trio..zaatar, yogurt and olive oil…I’m in for zaatar flavoured scones.
On November 10, 2010 at 7:12 am
Cherine says:
I know what is zaatar craving!! I loved this recipe!! Looks wonderful!!
On November 10, 2010 at 7:28 am
T.W Barritt says:
I love the fact that these are whole wheat, and filled with yogurt cheese! I used to make yogurt cheese often and use it for a variety of dips and spreads.
On November 10, 2010 at 7:30 am
Priya says:
Fabulous scones..
On November 10, 2010 at 7:37 am
sweet Artichoke says:
Wonderful scones! I have just received zaatar from Jordan and am in a zaatar frenzy these days… just made soft rolls with it and will defintitely try your scones 🙂
On November 10, 2010 at 9:30 am
Barbara says:
I always learn so much when I visit you, Joumana! These savory scones look delicious and because the ingredients were new to me, I clicked and learned.
On November 10, 2010 at 9:54 am
SYLVIA says:
This is a new twist on a family favorite, and a great addition to any festive brunch. It is easy to prepare as it is to eat, the classic Herby zaatar speckles this wholesome scone and gives it a crunch, and makes it very tasty with the labneh, It doesn’t matter the time of day breakfast food like scone is always a warm comforting choice with a cup of coffee or tea . Joumana I give you a standing ovation.
On November 10, 2010 at 11:37 am
Adelina says:
Joumana, this is genius!!! I have never really be into scones as much to attempt making my own. I love your savory spin on this classic recipe. I need to surprise my Lebanese Armenian husband with your version. We love eating Zaatar bread for breakfast with side of lebni. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
On November 10, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Dimah says:
These look absolutely lovely! What a delicious combination of flavors!
On November 10, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Devaki says:
What a refreshing take on an age old classic! And phooey to the English cousins who take offense ..lol…
I love everything about this and how delish with the zaa’tar and thick thick labneh.
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
On November 10, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Bria @ WestofPersia says:
I, too, crave za’atar. Za’atar and carbs = winning combo. This is a seriously creative and brilliant idea!
On November 10, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Christine @ Fresh says:
This looks like quite a delicious savory scone. I bet the za’ater gives it a nice flavor.
On November 11, 2010 at 12:43 am
Conor @ HoldtheBeef says:
The colour on these is fantastic! And I’m half English, so I think I can speak for the whole country and say they’re totally approved 😉
On November 11, 2010 at 5:07 am
Food Jihadist says:
I love love love zaatar. This recipe inspired me. I think my Thanksgiving Turkey will have a Zaatar glaze.
On November 11, 2010 at 5:24 am
Faith says:
I love your twist on the English classic! Fabulous new use for za’atar, Joumana. And lebneh for the clotted cream is brilliant!
On November 11, 2010 at 10:58 am
Nadji says:
Encore une fois, une réalisation des plus délicieuses.
J’ai acheté du zaater et je l’ai très peu utilisé. Manque d’habitude.
Voilà une bonne opportunité.
A très bientôt.
On November 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Erica says:
This sounds wonderful – perfect for darker autumn evenings. Amazing, as always!
On November 11, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Krista says:
What a brilliant idea, Joumana!! Wow – I will love trying this one. So inventive yet it feels homey somehow, like beloved comfort food. 🙂
On November 11, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Jenna says:
Wow, I’ve never made Lebanese food before–I’m intrigued by the flavor combinations! It sounds delicious–thanks for the recipe!
On November 11, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Katie @Cozydelicious says:
These look amazing. I would never have imagined zaatar scones but they look awesome! And with a big scoop of yogurt cheese they are a perfect indulgent snack!
On November 12, 2010 at 8:53 am
Franziska says:
I only just discovered your blog – looks like I will have a lot of reading to do! I love all kinds of food from all over the world and I try out everything that sounds interesting. So, yoghurt is dripping in the sieve and your scones have just come out of the oven – they smell really good! I cant wait to try them when they have cooled down a bit. Thank you for posting this recipe.
On November 12, 2010 at 12:10 pm
deeba says:
I absolutely love these Joumana…got Zataar too. Will try them soon! Holy yum!
On November 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Sophie says:
Waw!! Your zatar scones look so delectable, festive & huge too! I love the filling too!
Yummie & fab food!
On November 12, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Amanda says:
Joumana I just love your recipes – they always send me to the kitchen!
I have a bag of zaatar in the pantry just begging for these scones, too.
On November 13, 2010 at 12:04 am
sicoulette says:
mmmmmmmmmmm…ça donne trop envie..je sens l’odeur du zaatar dans toute la maison
On November 13, 2010 at 10:04 am
Heni says:
I have been away but I can see i have missed so many dishes Joumana! this one is great – mkang this tomorrow!
On November 14, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Oui, Chef says:
I am absolutely making these soon….za’atar makes EVERYTHING taste better! – S
On November 17, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Joanna says:
Hi Joumana – these look wonderful indeed – I visited Beirut for a day when I was a teenager back in the seventies, seems such a long time ago now, on some school trip and remember it was one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. I”ve loved the bright tastes of Lebanese food for years, and now it is getting easier to find the ingredients that were so unusual here only until recently. I look forward to reading your collection of recipes and learning from you.
On December 16, 2010 at 4:03 am
gula welat says:
Humm ca a l’air délicieux! c’est bien mon genre
On February 2, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Tara says:
Hi Joumana!
I tried making these the other day and they rose beautifully, but when I tried them, there was still the strong bitter aftertaste of the baking powder. I wonder what could have went wrong?
On June 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Joumana says:
@Tara: Maybe you have a very fine scent detector 🙂 I would try baking soda next time.
On July 6, 2015 at 8:39 am