Soujouk Flatbread Recipes

FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and water in the bowl of an electric mixer. Let it rest until frothy, about 15 minutes. Using the paddle attachment, incorporate the flours into the yeast mixture. Beat in the salt and fennel. Switch to the dough hook and knead for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the dough and place it into a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the dough with plastic and allow it to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch the dough down, cover, and let it rise a second time until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Turn the risen dough out onto a work surface and divide it into 8 balls aproximately 3 ounces each. Place the balls on a floured cookie sheet, cover with a damp towel, and let them rest for 20 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface roll the balls out, dusting with flour as needed. Roll into 7-inch disks. Prepare a hot charcoal or stove top grill. Lightly brush the disks with olive oil. Place the disks, oiled side down on the grill. The breads will begin to rise almost immediately. When golden brown on 1 side, flip the breads over, brush again and cook until brown. Remove from the grill and serve warm.
• VARIATIONS: Calzones: Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of a mixture of freshly grated Parmesan and coarsely ground black pepper and fold over.
• Pizzas: After turning top with a simple tomato sauce made with fresh basil and roasted garlic. Yield: 3/4 cup

YOGURT FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Whisk 3 tablespoons warm water (100 to 110 degrees F; see Cook's Note) with the honey in a small bowl until dissolved. Stir in the yeast and let sit until it begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and salt in a separate bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yogurt and 2/3 cup warm water. Stir the water and yogurt together in the well, then stir in the yeast mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold the mixture together until it forms a rough ball of dough; the dough will have a shaggy texture. Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and knead the dough until it becomes smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. If the dough begins to stick to your hands, lightly flour them and continue to knead. Add the dough back to the bowl, cover with a clean towel and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough. At this point, you can proceed with baking below, or you can freeze the dough. To freeze, place the dough in a resealable freezer bag, squeeze out excess air and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost the dough in the refrigerator the night before you want to make the flatbreads.
• To cook the flatbreads, lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Divide the dough into 12 pieces, about 2 ounces each. Roll each piece of dough into a ball, then flatten into a circle with your palm. Roll each dough circle into a roughly 6- to 7-inch round, but don't worry if the flatbread takes on another shape, as long as it is approximately 1/4 inch thick. If the dough begins to stick to the rolling pin or board, just dust with more flour.
• Heat a 10-inch or larger cast-iron pan or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly grease with vegetable oil. When the pan just begins to smoke, reduce the heat to medium and add 1 to 2 flatbreads or whatever fits in the pan without any overlap. Cook until bubbles appear on the top of the dough and the bottom is cooked and deep brown in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until completely cooked through, another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a baking sheet to cool and repeat with the remaining flatbreads. If the pan gets too hot, just remove from the heat to let cool slightly, then wipe out the pan, grease with a little more oil and resume cooking the flatbreads.
• When all the flatbreads are cooked, let cool completely. Eat immediately or wrap in a clean towel and store at room temperature for 1 day. To freeze: To ensure fresh, warm flatbreads every time, stack the flatbreads with a piece of parchment between each (see Cook's Note) and then place in a resealable freezer bag. Push out the excess air and freeze for up to about 2 months.
• To reheat, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the desired number of flatbreads from the freezer and place on a baking sheet in a flat layer. Bake from frozen until the flatbreads are warmed through and soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Alternatively, you can toast the flatbreads from frozen in a toaster oven for about 3 minutes on the toaster setting.

GRILLED GARLIC FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Whisk 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove and 1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. Stretch 1 pound pizza dough into a 1/2-inch-thick round. Brush with some of the garlic oil, flip onto the grill and cook over medium heat, covered, until puffy, 10 minutes. Brush with more of the oil, flip, cover and cook through, 5 more minutes. Brush with the remaining oil. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan.