Kimchi Cheese Manakish with Za'atar Crust and Gochujang Honey

Method

1. Pour the lukewarm water (about 37 °C) into a bowl, stir in the yeast and sugar and leave for 5 min. Foam on top means the yeast is alive.

   Add in this stepLukewarm water 130 mlInstant dried yeast 1 tspSugar 1 tsp

2. Add the flour, salt and dough olive oil, bring together into a ball and knead on the worktop for 8 min until smooth and elastic; it should spring back slowly when poked.

   Add in this stepPlain (all-purpose) flour 200 gSalt ¾ tspExtra virgin olive oil (for the dough) 2 tsp

3. Shape into a ball, return it to the bowl, cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 h, until doubled.

4. About 30 minutes before the rise ends, put a baking tray upside down on the lowest shelf and preheat the oven (oven) to 250 °C for 30 min.

   oven

5. Shake most of the paste off the kimchi, squeeze it hard in your hands to remove the liquid and chop it into 1 cm pieces; wet kimchi makes a soggy base. Mix it with the mozzarella, crumbled feta and sliced spring onions (keep some green tops for garnish). Stir the za'atar and topping oil together too. Divide the dough (2 × 170 g), roll into balls, cover and rest for 10 min.

   Add in this stepWell-fermented cabbage kimchi 120 gGrated mozzarella 120 gFeta 60 gSpring onions 1.4Za'atar 2 tbspExtra virgin olive oil (for the topping) 3 tbsp

6. On baking paper, press each ball out with your fingertips to about 20 cm across. Brush a 2 cm band around the edge with the za'atar oil and spread the kimchi cheese evenly over the centre. The za'atar rim bakes into a crisp, fragrant crust.

7. Slide it on its paper onto the hot tray and bake for 7 min (oven), until the cheese is melted, bubbling and browned in spots and the rim is golden. Bake in batches for larger amounts (1×).

   oven

8. Mix the gochujang and honey (loosen with a few drops of water if thick), zigzag it over the hot manakish, scatter with sesame seeds and the reserved spring onion, then cut and serve.

   Add in this stepGochujang (Korean chilli paste) 2 tspHoney 2 tspToasted sesame seeds 1 tspSpring onions 0.6