Easy Flatbread Dough Food

EASY FLATBREADS

Steps:

• Add all the flatbread ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together with a spoon, then use clean hands to pat and bring everything together.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour, then tip out the dough.
• Knead for a minute or so to bring it all together (this isn't a traditional bread recipe, so you don't need to knead it for long - just enough time to bring everything together).
• Put the dough into a floured-dusted bowl and cover with a plate, then leave aside.
• If making the garlic butter: peel the garlic cloves and crush them with a garlic crusher.
• Pick the herb leaves onto a chopping board and finely chop them, discarding the stalks.
• Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium heat, then stir through the garlic and chopped herbs, then set aside.
• Dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with flour, then divide the dough in half, then divide each half into 6 equal-sized pieces (roughly the size of a golf ball).
• With your hands, pat and flatten the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece into 12cm rounds, roughly 2mm to 3mm thick.
• Use a knife to cut 6 lines into the centre of each round, leaving about 3cm at each end.
• Place the griddle pan on a high heat, then once hot, cook each one for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until bar-marked and puffed up, turning with tongs.
• Brush the flatbreads all over with herby garlic butter as they come off the griddle, then pile onto a serving board so everyone can dig in and help themselves.

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.

FLATBREAD DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the boiling water and 1/3 cup cornmeal in a bowl; let stand 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl, and let stand 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine cornmeal mixture, flour and salt in a food processor, and pulse 4 times or until blended. With processor on, slowly add yeast mixture and oil through food chute; process until dough forms a ball. Process 1 additional minute. (To prepare dough by hand, combine cornmeal mixture, flour, and salt in a bowl; stir until well-blended. Add yeast mixture and oil, stirring well.).
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and knead lightly 4 or 5 times (dough will feel tacky). Place dough in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover; let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.).
• Punch down dough; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Divide dough into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a ball (cover remaining dough while working to prevent it from drying).
• Roll each ball into a 10 x 6 inch oval. Place 2 ovals on a baking sheet lightly dusted with 1 1/2 teaspoons cornmeal. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 ovals on an additional baking sheet lightly dusted with 1 1/2 teaspoons cornmeal. Add toppings and bake according to recipe directions (see recipe for Zucchini, Walnut, and blue cheese flatbread and mushroom, onion and cherry tomato flatbread recipes). Note: If you use whole-grain cornmeal, which still contains some of the hull and germ of the dried corn, you will need to increase the flour to 2 1/4 cups.