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- 12
- February
- 2008
Non-denominational Flatbread
This is another one of those really simple recipes that yields surprisingly tasty results. The flatbread is not quite naan, not quite pita, not quite tortilla. But rather than thinking that it falls short on all three accounts, I choose to regard it as suitable for all cases - good dunked in soup or as a vehicle for hummus delivery, good for swaddling falafel or other sandwich-type wrap, and good for making chalupas when you invite your neighbors over for Tuesday Night Tacos. They are quick to make, and require no special ingredients or techniques.
two responses
So I've had a lot of time on my hands lately. That, in my world means time to mess around with breads. I've recently fallen back in love with the magic that happens when you introduce spud starch into the works. I tried this the day before yesterday with my own vegan naan style stuff (the original uses yogurt). It took considerably longer than the previous attempts, but was well worth the trouble as the result was perfectly fluffy, pliable and chewy. Everything naan ought to be. I peeled and diced a potato and boiled it in just barely enough water. Once it was completely done, I pureed it in the same water with a stick blender. Salt went in at this point. I transfered it to a mixing bowl and threw it in the freezer to cool to non-yeast killing temperatures. I bloomed the yeast in the potato sludge. Next I used the chapati method of getting the gluten to develop in a hurry. If you're
not familiar, you make a dough that's way tougher than it should be and then re-incorporate more water. The first two minutes of kneading, you'll think you made a horrible mistake and that that this method couldn't possibly end in anything but tears. Then suddenly, it all comes back together and acts like jesus himself made it. It took about 20 minutes to forget the abuse I had just dealt it and allow me to roll it out. I didn't add any oil before the brushing on just before cooking.
It's worth trying if you can get past the not having specific units of measurement. I'm sure you remember my refusal of the assertion that baking is a science.
I'm home sick, but not too sick. This is just what I'm in the mood for-- plain, simple, crispy... I look forward to munching on them!