Description
Za’atar Egg Buns bring Middle Eastern comfort right to your kitchen table, packed with fresh spinach and crumbly feta. Warm, aromatic spices and flaky baked dough create a simple breakfast that feels like a delicious morning hug from Lebanon.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 200 g fresh spinach
- 150 g feta cheese
- 6 eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 7 g instant yeast
- 60 ml olive oil
- 2 tbsp za’atar
- 2 garlic cloves
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon za’atar
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Mix 500 g flour, 7 g yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 ½ tsp salt in a large bowl. Whisk 250 ml lukewarm milk, 1 egg, and 60 ml olive oil in a separate container.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Knead the mixture on a floured surface for 10 minutes until your dough becomes soft and slightly tacky.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1-1.5 hours until the volume doubles.
- Mince 2 garlic cloves and sauté in 1 tbsp olive oil until fragrant. Add 200 g spinach and cook for 3-4 minutes until wilted.
- Season spinach with salt and pepper. Cool completely, then mix in 150 g crumbled feta cheese.
- Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. Roll each into a ball and flatten on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Create a shallow well in the center of each bun using your fingers. Fill each well with the spinach-feta mixture.
- Cover buns with a clean towel and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Brush bun edges with 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp milk.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp za’atar over the buns. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove buns and crack 1 whole egg into the center of each bun.
- Return to oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until egg whites set but yolks remain slightly runny.
- Drizzle with olive oil and additional za’atar before serving warm.
Notes
- Toast za’atar spice blend gently in a dry skillet before sprinkling on buns to enhance its nutty, herbal flavor.
- Squeeze excess moisture from spinach completely to prevent soggy bun bottoms and ensure a crisp texture.
- Crumble feta cheese freshly right before adding to the buns for the most vibrant, tangy cheese flavor.
- When baking, place baking sheet on the middle oven rack to guarantee even heat distribution and prevent burning the bottom of the buns.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-22 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 318 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 482 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg