Cheese Pastries with Za'atar Dough

Ingredients

• 1 bunch Fresh green za'atar bunch
• 1 kg / 7.5 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 cup Water
• 2 Eggs
• 1 cup Vegetable oil
• 2.5 tablespoons Sugar
• 1.5 tablespoons Yeast
• 1.5 tablespoons Butter
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 kg Cheese
• to taste Parsley
• 1 Egg
• 1.5 tablespoons Ghee
• 1 teaspoon Mahleb
• optional Nigella seeds

Instructions

1. In the mixing bowl, combine the water with the sugar and yeast, and leave it to activate.
2. In the same mixing bowl, add the milk, oil, flour, and salt, then begin kneading.
3. In the same mixing bowl, add the butter at the very end while kneading, until the dough becomes smooth.
4. In another bowl, remove the tough stems from the fresh green za'atar leaves, then chop the leaves coarsely.
5. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and leave it to rest until it rises.
6. In the preparation bowl, soak the cheese in cold water, changing the water every 15 minutes for 1 to 1.5 hours if it is salty.
7. In the preparation bowl, chop the cheese, then divide it into two portions.
8. In the preparation bowl, mix the cheese portion for the pastries with the parsley and egg.
9. In the preparation bowl, mix the cheese portion for the barak pastries with the egg, ghee, and mahleb; sesame seeds and nigella seeds may be added optionally.
10. On a work surface lightly dusted with flour, cut the dough into small pieces and leave them to rest for about 10 minutes.
11. On the work surface, roll each piece of dough into a round shape, maintaining a suitable thickness.
12. On an oiled baking tray, shape the cheese pastries or barak pastries with the appropriate filling according to the desired shape.
13. On the oven tray, brush the tops with a mixture of egg yolk and a little milk.
14. On the oven tray, sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds.
15. Place the tray in an oven preheated to a high temperature until the pastries are cooked through and golden.