Za'atar and Fig Biscuits
Iain Watters brought his adventurous world-travel-inspired palate to these biscuits, combining Middle Eastern za'atar, Mediterranean dried figs, and hearty British oatmeal. Paul Hollywood found the original version too pungent with powerful flavors that went overboard. This improved recipe addresses the critique through strategic layering: a modest amount of za'atar in the dough with an aromatic za'atar honey butter brushed on top creates complexity without heaviness. The figs' jammy sweetness and honey provide crucial counterpoint to za'atar's herbal punch, while oats ground the exotic elements with their mild, toasty flavor. Chef's Notes On Za'atar Balance The key improvement here is restraint. Za'atar contains powerful flavors—sumac's acidity, oregano's intensity, sesame's nuttiness—that can easily dominate. By using a measured 1½ tablespoons in the dough and adding the rest as a finishing butter, you get complexity without the "pungent" quality Paul criticized. The figs and honey…
- Time: 40 min
Source: Relaxed Recipes
Ingredients
- PREPARE THE DRY INGREDIENTS
- Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400°F . Line a bak
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, 1½ tablespoons za'atar, sugar,
- CUT IN THE BUTTER
- Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the frozen butter directly into the
- ADD THE WET INGREDIENTS
- Scatter the chopped figs over the flour mixture and toss to distribute evenly
- In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, honey, and olive oil
- Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture. Using a fork, then your hands,
- LAMINATE FOR FLAKY LAYERS
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into a rough rectangle about
- Pat the final dough to approximately 1-inch thickness. Using a 2½-inch round cut
- PREPARE THE ZA'ATAR HONEY BUTTER
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, 1 tablespoon za'atar, and 1 te
- BAKE
- Arrange biscuits on the prepared sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. For extra-tall b
- Brush tops generously with half of the za'atar honey butter
- Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden brown on top and cooked through, with visibl
- Remove from oven and immediately brush with remaining za'atar honey butter. Spri
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before serving warm