Syrian Mountain Bread Recipes

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.

LEBANESE MOUNTAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup flour, yeast, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Pour in warm water. Whisk together thoroughly, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover bowl and let sit until mixture gets bubbly, 30 to 60 minutes. Drizzle in olive oil; add salt and 1 cup flour. Mix together until mixture forms a sticky (not wet) dough ball that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If mixture seems too wet, add a bit more flour.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Knead dough until it is soft, supple, and slightly elastic, about 2 minutes. Pour a few drops of olive oil in a bowl. Transfer dough ball to bowl and turn to coat surface with oil.
• Cover bowl and place in a warm spot. Let dough rise until it has doubled in size, 60 to 90 minutes. Transfer dough to work surface and knead to remove air bubbles, about 1 minute. Transfer to zip top plastic bag; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface; dough may be sticky so make sure you use enough flour to keep dough from sticking to the surface or your hands (but less flour is best). Break off a piece of dough slightly smaller than a golf ball. Roll into a smooth ball. Flatten and roll out into a circle about 1/8-inch thick.
• Invert a smooth mixing bowl on work surface; lightly flour the bottom. Lightly stretch the dough and place dough circle on the floured surface of the inverted bowl. Gently stretch dough evenly down the sides of the bowl, working your way around the edges, until it is very thin and translucent, or as thin as you can get it without tearing it.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Flour your hands and carefully remove dough circle from bottom of bowl. Transfer to hot skillet. Cook until blisters form and begin to brown, about 45 to 60 seconds per side. Transfer to a dish and cover, using dish inverted over it to allow bread to steam and stay moist and supple.

LEBANESE MOUNTAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup flour, yeast, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Pour in warm water. Whisk together thoroughly, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover bowl and let sit until mixture gets bubbly, 30 to 60 minutes. Drizzle in olive oil; add salt and 1 cup flour. Mix together until mixture forms a sticky (not wet) dough ball that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If mixture seems too wet, add a bit more flour.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Knead dough until it is soft, supple, and slightly elastic, about 2 minutes. Pour a few drops of olive oil in a bowl. Transfer dough ball to bowl and turn to coat surface with oil.
• Cover bowl and place in a warm spot. Let dough rise until it has doubled in size, 60 to 90 minutes. Transfer dough to work surface and knead to remove air bubbles, about 1 minute. Transfer to zip top plastic bag; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface; dough may be sticky so make sure you use enough flour to keep dough from sticking to the surface or your hands (but less flour is best). Break off a piece of dough slightly smaller than a golf ball. Roll into a smooth ball. Flatten and roll out into a circle about 1/8-inch thick.
• Invert a smooth mixing bowl on work surface; lightly flour the bottom. Lightly stretch the dough and place dough circle on the floured surface of the inverted bowl. Gently stretch dough evenly down the sides of the bowl, working your way around the edges, until it is very thin and translucent, or as thin as you can get it without tearing it.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Flour your hands and carefully remove dough circle from bottom of bowl. Transfer to hot skillet. Cook until blisters form and begin to brown, about 45 to 60 seconds per side. Transfer to a dish and cover, using dish inverted over it to allow bread to steam and stay moist and supple.

SYRIAN MOUNTAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Make the dough and leave it to rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
• Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan. Add the chillies, onions, leeks and lemon juice. Cook gently for 12-15 minutes, until everything is tender. Add the spices and salt and stir well. Leave to cool and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to its highest temperature. Knock the air out of the dough, then tip it out onto a floured work surface. Cut the dough into 12 portions, then lightly flour each one and roll it out as thinly as you can. You are aiming for rough circles, around 18 cm (7 in) in diameter. Cook each round on a baking stone for 1-2 minutes until its starts to blister and color slightly. Actual baking time for the whole batch will depend on how many breads will fit comfortable on your stone at a time as stones come in a wide range of sizes.
• Wrap the breads in a tea towel to keep warm while you bake the rest.
• When all the breads are ready, smear each with a dollop of the chilli mixture. Roll them up and pack them into a baking tray. Warm them through briefly before serving with the goat's cheese, if using.

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.