Easy Za’atar Yogurt Rolls: No Yeast, No Rising Time

Some evenings, the last thing we want to do is spend hours in the kitchen preparing a complicated meal. If you're craving something warm, comforting, and delicious without all the effort, yogurt dough is the perfect solution. These soft, flavorful za'atar yogurt rolls are so irresistible, you'll find yourself reaching for one after another. Best of all, there's no yeast and no waiting for the dough to rise!

Za'atar Yogurt Rolls

Ingredients (Makes 8 Small Rolls)

• 2½ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour

• 1 packet (10 g) baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon za'atar spice blend

• 300 g plain, unsweetened yogurt (3% fat)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the topping: 1 beaten egg, a little za'atar, and sesame seeds to taste.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) using the conventional bake setting (top and bottom heat). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and za'atar. Add the yogurt and olive oil, stirring with a spoon until a dough begins to form.

3. Gently bring the dough together with your hands until no dry flour remains. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. If it feels dry or crumbly, add yogurt one tablespoon at a time. If it's too sticky to shape, sprinkle in a little more flour. There's no need for the dough to become completely dry.

4. Divide the dough into eight equal portions and shape each into a ball using lightly floured hands. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Gently flatten the tops to create slightly rounded, disk-shaped rolls.

5. Brush the rolls with beaten egg and sprinkle with za'atar and sesame seeds. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden brown on top and underneath. If the tops begin browning too quickly, loosely cover them with aluminum foil and continue baking as needed.

6. Transfer the rolls to a wire rack and allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing or serving.

Tips for Perfect Za'atar Yogurt Rolls

• Don't overwork the dough. Resist the temptation to keep adding flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Unlike yeast dough, yogurt dough doesn't require kneading. Too much flour or excessive handling can leave the rolls dense and heavy rather than soft and fluffy. Mix just until combined and shape gently.

• Check your za'atar blend. Some za'atar mixtures contain quite a bit of salt, so taste or check the ingredients before adding the full amount of salt to the dough.

• Adjust the consistency if necessary. If you're using particularly thick Greek yogurt, you may need to add a small amount of water to achieve the right dough consistency.

• Storing leftovers: These rolls are best enjoyed fresh on the day they're baked. However, once completely cooled, they can be frozen in an airtight bag. For convenience, slice them in half before freezing so they're easy to reheat whenever you're craving a warm, homemade roll.