Traditional Moroccan Khobz Bread For Bread Machine Recipes

TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN KHOBZ

Steps:

• In a small bowl add yeast, sugar and 1c warm water. Mix well and allow yeast to bubble. In a large bowl add flour and salt. After yeast/water mixture begins to bubble pour into bowl with flour. Begin combining flour and water. Have another cup of warm water to the side and add slowly to flour mixture. You may not use the entire cup. Continue combining flour and water until you can form a ball. At this point it should be a bit sticky. Pour vegetable oil into your hands and proceeds to work it into the dough. Again you may not use a full 1/4 cup. Most of the dough should come off of your hands and combine into the dough that will be elastic but no longer sticky. Knead for 8-10 minutes. You can do this by hand or in a mixer - if using a mixer reduce the time to approximately 5 minutes. Oil the ball and the bowl and cover. Allow to rest 15 minutes. Divide dough into 2-3 portions depending on the size of the bread you would like. Using the divided pieces form 2-3 smaller balls. Sprinkle flour on a board or counter-top and begin to push down the ball beginning in the center, similar to how you would form a pizza crust. Moroccan bread is traditionally in a circle shape however whatever shape you make it will not really matter! The dough should be about 1/4" thick and even on all sides. Wrap in a towel and continue for the remainder of the portions. Allow dough to rise about 45 minutes. Preheat the over to 400-425F. Once dough has risen prick with a from several times and place on a cookie sheet or baking stone into the oven. Cook until it begins to brown and makes a hallow sound when tapped - about 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

MOROCCAN WHITE BREAD RECIPE - KHOBZ

Steps:

• Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper OR lightly oiling it OR dusting it with semolina or cornmeal. Set aside.
• Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yeast.
• Add some of the water to the yeast in the well and lightly stir with your fingers to dissolve the yeast (see Recipe Notes below). Add the rest of the water and oil to bowl and stir to combine all ingredients.
• Knead the dough (in the bowl if it's large enough or on a floured work surface) for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. While kneading, work in a little flour or water as needed to ensure the dough is soft and pliable but not sticky.
• Divide the dough into two smooth mounds and place well apart on the prepared pan. Cover with a towel and leave to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• After resting, pat the mounds of dough into flat, round loaves about 1/4" thick. Cover again with a towel and leave to rise for about an hour (longer in a cold room), until the dough springs back when pressed lightly.
• Preheat your oven to 435°F (225°C). When the oven is hot, lightly score the top of the bread with sharp knife or poke in several places with a fork.
• Bake the khobz in the preheated oven, rotating the pan if necessary, for about 20 minutes or golden brown. The loaves should sound hollow when tapped.
• Transfer the khobz to a rack or towel-lined basket to cool.

KHOBZ (BASIC MOROCCAN WHITE BREAD) RECIPE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 435 F / 225 C.

BASIC MOROCCAN WHITE BREAD (KHOBZ)

Steps:

• Prepare two baking sheets by lightly oiling them or by dusting the pans with a little cornmeal or semolina.
• Mix the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Make a large well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yeast.
• Add the oil and the water to the well, stirring with your fingers to dissolve the yeast first, and then stirring the entire contents of the bowl to incorporate the water into the flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and begin kneading the dough, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. If necessary, add flour or water in very small amounts to make the dough soft and pliable, but not sticky. Continue kneading for 10 minutes by hand (or 5 minutes by machine), or until the dough is very smooth and elastic.
• Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a smooth circular mound. (If you prefer, you can divide the dough into four to six smaller loaves instead.) Place the dough onto the prepared pans, cover with a towel and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• After the dough has rested, use the palm of your hand to flatten the dough into circles about 1/4-inch thick. Cover with a towel and let rise about 1 hour (longer in a cold room), or until the dough springs back when pressed lightly with a finger.
• Heat an oven to 435 F/225°C.
• Create steam vents by scoring the top of the bread with a very sharp knife or by poking the dough with a fork in several places. Bake the bread for about 20 minutes-rotating the pans about halfway through the baking cycle-or until the loaves are nicely colored and sound hollow when tapped. Transfer the bread to a rack or towel-lined basket to cool.

ALGERIAN KHOBZ EL DAR -- SEMOLINA BREAD

Steps:

• Grease a large round metal tin / pan (approx 12" across / wide & 1.5" high / deep).
• Place the semolina, flour, yeast, sugar & salt in a very large mixing bowl. (In Algeria we traditionally use huge but shallow wooden bowls for mixing doughs.)
• Make a well in the centre & add the beaten egg & the oil along with 1 cup of water. Mix well, adding more water when necessary.
• Keep mixing until you have a soft dough. Now knead the dough for around 30 minutes until it is soft, smooth & elastic. You will need to add a little water from time to time as the semolina absorbs it.
• If you are having problems with a very sticky dough, don't worry - if you've used the correct amounts of ingredients, everything will be OK - just keep kneading & add dribbles of water to bring the dough back together again.
• After 30 minutes, mix in the nigella seeds if using then with wet hands bring the dough together in a ball.
• Place the dough in the greased pan & with wet hands, gently push the dough until it completely covers the base of the pan.
• Sprinkle a little semolina over the top, cover with a kitchen towel & leave to rise until doubled in size.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C
• Brush the top of the dough with the egg yolks & sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top. Using a skewer, make 6 pricks -going all the way through the dough - 5 evenly spaced holes 1" from the edge & 1 hole in the centre (This will make sure that the bread cooks evenly).
• Place in the upper 1/3 of the oven & cook for approx 35 minutes or until a deep golden colour & sounding hollow when tapped.
• Remove from the oven & allow to cool for 5 minutes bfore turning out onto a kitchen towel. Wrap the bread in the towle & allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.