Rustic Flatbread Recipes

RUSTIC BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Mix together the flour, yeast and 1/2 tsp salt. Add the oil, then pour in the water gradually, adding enough to make a soft dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 4-5 mins until the dough feels strong, bouncy and has a silky feel to it.
• Cut the dough into 8 pieces, then roll out into rough rounds about 16-17cm in diameter. (Don't pile them on top of each other or they will stick together.)
• Sprinkle a baking sheet or two with semolina if you have it, otherwise leave plain. Lay the breads on the sheets and let them sit for 5 mins, then scatter with rosemary, salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in batches for 8-10 mins until puffy and golden. Can be made 3-4 hrs ahead.

RUSTIC FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Place 1 1/2 cups warm water in large bowl; sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon yeast over. Let stand 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour. Using wooden spoon, beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Cover starter mixture with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature overnight. Stir starter to deflate. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Pour milk into large bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Whisk remaining 2 teaspoons yeast into milk. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 10 minutes.
• Scrape starter into milk mixture. Stir in oil and salt. At low speed, mix in remaining 2 3/4 cups unbleached flour. Beat until dough pulls away from sides of bowl, about 6 minutes. Scrape dough off paddle attachment. Let dough rest in bowl 10 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto well-floured work surface (dough will be sticky). Knead with floured hands until smooth and elastic, about 2 minutes (dough will be soft).
• Lightly oil large bowl. Add dough; turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, then towel. Let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead briefly until smooth. Divide dough in half. Let dough halves rest 5 minutes. Shape each half into log on work surface. Lightly flour each half; let rest 5 minutes longer. Lightly oil 2 heavy large baking sheets; sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently roll out each dough half into 14 x 6-inch rectangle, allowing dough to rest 3 minutes if dough springs back. Transfer each rectangle to prepared baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle tops with flour. Cover dough with lightly oiled plastic wrap, oiled side down. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Position 1 rack in bottom and 1 rack in top third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Lightly sprinkle tops of dough with flour again. Press dough all over with fingertips to dimple. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap, oiled side down. Let dough rise until light and puffy, about 20 minutes.
• Bake breads until brown and crusty, about 30 minutes. Transfer breads to rack and cool slightly. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Rewarm breads in 400°F oven about 8 minutes, if desired.)

RUSTIC FLATBREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and stir in mushrooms and garlic; sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cook and stir until the mushrooms have given off their juice and the juice has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set mushroom mixture aside.
• Heat 1 more tablespoon olive oil in a separate large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, and place asparagus into the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus pieces are very well browned (almost but not quite burned in spots), about 8 minutes. Remove asparagus from skillet and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium, and cook bacon in the same skillet until crisp, about 10 minutes; stir often. Drain excess grease as the bacon cooks, for crisper pieces.
• Remove bacon pieces and place on a paper towel-lined plate; blot with paper towels to reduce grease.
• Place the flatbread crust onto the prepared baking sheet, and spread marinara sauce over the crust.
• Spread the mushrooms and garlic evenly over the pizza.
• Spread asparagus over the pizza.
• Arrange bacon pieces on the pizza.
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the pizza, followed by Asiago cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheeses are melted and bubbling, 12 to 15 minutes.

RUSTIC FLATBREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and stir in mushrooms and garlic; sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cook and stir until the mushrooms have given off their juice and the juice has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set mushroom mixture aside.
• Heat 1 more tablespoon olive oil in a separate large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, and place asparagus into the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus pieces are very well browned (almost but not quite burned in spots), about 8 minutes. Remove asparagus from skillet and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium, and cook bacon in the same skillet until crisp, about 10 minutes; stir often. Drain excess grease as the bacon cooks, for crisper pieces.
• Remove bacon pieces and place on a paper towel-lined plate; blot with paper towels to reduce grease.
• Place the flatbread crust onto the prepared baking sheet, and spread marinara sauce over the crust.
• Spread the mushrooms and garlic evenly over the pizza.
• Spread asparagus over the pizza.
• Arrange bacon pieces on the pizza.
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the pizza, followed by Asiago cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheeses are melted and bubbling, 12 to 15 minutes.

RUSTIC COUNTRY FLATBREAD WITH ADDED GOODIES!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• In large bowl combine all of wheat flour/about 3 1/2 cups white flour, butter and water (the extra cup of white flour is for your board and easy handling). Let stand until cool (about 5 minutes).
• Stir in remaining ingredients (including the mushrooms, cheese and ham/proscuitto/bacon) using enough flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead about 5 minutes.
• Divide dough in quarters.
• Roll out each quarter on floured surface as thin as possible. Flat breads will be irregular in shape. Place on ungreased cookie sheets (you might have to bake in two stages). Bake 20 minutes, depending on thickness, or until golden brown.
• This makes 4 8-10" rounds. Cut into wedges and enjoy!