Syrian Flat Bread Recipes

SYRIAN FLAT BREAD*

Steps:

• Set a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°.
• In a bowl, combine the water and yeast and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• In food processor, pulse the flour with the salt. With the machine on pour in the yeast mixture and then the warm milk and process until the dough forms a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it a few times. Form the dough into a ball. Lightly oil a bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and turn to coat; cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Lightly dust a work suface with flour. Punch down the dough and cut it in half. Cut each half into 8 pieces and roll them into balls, then flatten into 6-inch rounds.
• Arrange the rounds on the work surface or on floured baking sheets; cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until puffy, 25 minutes.
• Using a lightly floured pizza peel, slide 4 of the rounds onto the hot pizza stone at a time and bake for about 5 minutes, until the pitas puff up.
• Serve hot or wrap in foil to keep warm.
• MAKE AHEAD: The flatbread, unbaked pita rounds can be frozen for up to 1 month. Let thaw completely then let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking.

HOMEMADE FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor combine the yeast, sugar, flour, salt and thyme. Pulse to combine. Add the water in a steady stream until the dough begins to form a ball, turn it on to a board and knead with the heel of your hand until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Coat a bowl with oil. Place dough in bowl, and cover with a damp cloth. Put in a warm spot to rise until double in size, about 1 hour.
• When the dough has doubled in size, punch the dough, scrape it onto the counter and knead it lightly into a smooth ball. Cut into 20 pieces and with a rolling pin roll out to form very flat 5 to 6-inch circles.
• Preheat a stove top grill pan over medium high. Do not oil. Place bread on hot grill and cook without touching it until you see bubbles on the surface, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn and continue to cook 1 to 2 minutes more or until bread has puffed up. Serve immediately.

SYRIAN MANOUSHI BREAD

Steps:

• Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast and salt.
• Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and dribble it into the dry ingredients until they absorb enough to make a sticky dough, how much water is required will entirely depend upon your flour.
• Mix in the olive oil and use your hands - or the dough hook on your electric mixer - to knead the dough until it is smooth and silky. It will take about 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil the ball of dough and put it into a bowl.
• Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for 2 hours, by which time it should have at least doubled in size.
• Knock the air out of the dough, then tip it out onto a floured work surface. Cut the dough into12 portions, then lightly flour each one and put them on a tray, covered, for another 10 minutes.
• When ready to cook, roll each portion out to a 15 cm (6 in) circle and cover with the topping of your choice.
• Bake in a hot oven (450 -500f) until done to your liking.

SYRIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
• Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into eight equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds with a damp cloth and let rest.
• Roll dough into thin flat circles, about 8 inches in diameter. Cook two at a time on preheated baking sheets or a baking stone until puffed up and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat for remaining loaves.

SYRIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Mix 2 cup flour and the yeast in a large mixing bowl.
• Mix remaining ingredients and heat until warm (115 degrees) stirring constantly.
• Add to flour/yeast mixture.
• Beat at low 1/2 minute (scrape sides of bowl).
• Beat on high 3 minutes.
• By hand, stir in enough remaining flour to make moderate stiff dough.
• Knead on floured surface until smooth.
• Place in greased bowl; turn once.
• Cover and let rise until double (40-45 minutes) Punch down; cover and let rest 10 minutes.
• Form into balls 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Place on ungreased baking sheets; roll each to 4 inch circle.
• Bake at 400 degrees till puffed, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Cool on cloth covered surface.