Persian Flat Bread Barbari Food

BARBARI (A PERSIAN BREAD)

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast with the sugar in 1/2 c water, let sit a few minutes to proof (foam).
• Mix bread flour, baking powder and salt together. Make a well in the flour, and slowly incorporate the yeast mixture, and then the remaining 1 cup of water.
• Knead 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic.
• Divide dough into 2 round pieces.
• Sprinkle a large baking sheet with cornmeal, transfer the dough to it. Lightly cover and place in a warm place until doubled in bulk (~1.5 hours).
• Meanwhile, bring the glaze ingredients to a boil, let cool. Brush lightly over the dough.
• Now for the tricky part! Dip your fingers into the glaze, and punch the dough down with the edges of your hands to form several long parallel ridges along the dough.
• Brush the dough with the glaze again, sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Carefully stretch the dough lengthwise (it should be approximately 8 inches wide and 18 long-- I never measured it!) until it is about 1/4-1/2" thick.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden. The bread should be slightly flexible when done. If you overcook it (as I did in my first attempt- by 8 minutes), it will turn out more like ciabatta-- still good!
• Good luck!

PERSIAN FLATBREAD - BARBARI

Steps:

• Mix together flour and dry ingredients (salt and dry yeast) in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Mix together lukewarm water and oil and pour into the well. Knead ingredients together by hand for 5 to 10 minutes until a soft, smooth dough is formed. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and place in a warm draft-free location for about an hour after kneading. Punch down dough and divide it into 2 or 3 equal balls. Brush each ball lightly with olive oil on a lightly oiled (instead of floured) work surface to prevent sticking. Shape each ball into a large circle or rectangle about 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick. Place dough on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free location for 20 - 30 minutes. Brush top of dough with olive oil. using a sharp knife or razor blade, cut 4 or 5 parallel lines running the length of the bread. If making a rectangular loaf, make cuts going in the opposite direction as well, forming small squares. Bake in a preheated 425F oven for approximately 15 minutes. Cut into small sections for serving. Makes 2 or 3 rounds. After brushing with oil and cutting the grooves, vary by sprinkling with seeds such as sesame, anise, fennel, caraway, etc.

PERSIAN FLAT BREAD (BARBARI)

Steps:

• add flour and corn flour into a bowl, mix with salt.
• form a small crater and add sugar, crumble fresh yeast into crater and add about 5 tablespoons lukewarm water. Incorporate yeast, sugar and bit of the flour until a creamy paste forms. let this mixture/bowl rest in a warm place for about 25 minutes. Starter dough will have risen and is bubbly.
• incorporate rest of water and olive oil and knead thoroughly until a soft, but firm dough has formed.
• let rest for the minimum of 1 hour in a warm place.
• form oval shaped breads and brush with olive oil, sprinkle with black sesame seeds and let bake on high heat for about 10 to 15 minutes in the pre-heated oven (225°C).

BARBARI BREAD (NAN-E BARBARI)

Steps:

• In a wide mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in 3 cups/720ml warm water. Add the sugar and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Add the salt to the yeast mixture and mix well. Gradually add the flour and stir constantly. When 6½ cups/650g flour have been added and you have a sticky dough, add 1 tablespoon oil and mix for 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to a floured counter and knead for about 15 minutes, adding the rest of the flour if necessary, until the dough is no longer sticky.
• Lift the dough in the mixing bowl and pour 3 tablespoons oil into it, then turn the dough in the oil so it is coated all over. Cover the entire bowl with a clean damp dish towel and allow the dough to rise for 4 hours, without moving it, in a warm place (I use the oven with just the light on, or a pantry).
• Punch the air out of the dough while it is still in the bowl and flip it over. Cover again with the damp towel and allow to rise 2 for more hours.
• Place a baking stone in the lower level of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C) for at least 20 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together the egg and yogurt until smooth.
• With oily hands, divide the dough into 4 balls. Place each ball on a lightly oiled surface. Use an oiled rolling pin to roll each ball out to an approximately 11in x 6in/28cm x 15cm oval shape. Place the loaves on an oiled surface, cover with the towel, and leave at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Dust a baker's peel with cornmeal and transfer a loaf to it. Brush the egg wash and make dents along the length of the top of the loaf, then sprinkle the seeds on top.
• Immediately slide the dough onto the hot baking stone in the oven, cornmeal side down, and bake for 8 minutes. Turn over and bake for 2 minutes longer.

TAFTOON - PERSIAN WHOLEMEAL FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Sift the flours into a large mixing bowl.
• Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water; add 1 1/2 cups of the remaining water and the salt.
• Pour the yeast mixture into the center of the flour and gradually work in.
• Beat with your hands for 20-30 minutes, or use the dough hook on an electric mixer and beat for 20 minutes, gradually adding in as much of the remaining 3/4 cup water as the dough will take (as the dough is beaten it will be able to take a little more water).
• Preheat oven to high (around 450 degrees F or more), and place a griddle on the center shelf to preheat for 10-15 minutes; when hot, lightly oil with a small cloth dipped in oil.
• Turn the dough out onto an oiled board (no need to proof the dough); oil your hands and divide the dough into 6 parts, rolling each piece into a ball.
• Roll out each ball as thinly as possible with an oiled rolling pin and prick all over with a fork or pinwheel, in 3-4 vertical lines across the surface.
• Take the round of dough and stretch it a little across the backs of your hands, and place dough on the smooth side of a cushion or pad.
• Pull the rack out where the heated griddle is on, and turn the cushion over and press down onto it.
• Close the oven and cook 1 minute, then pat down dough to prevent bread from puffing up.
• Bake until surface is bubbly (about 3 minutes), then turn bread over and cook 2 minutes more.
• Remove bread from oven and wrap in a towel.
• Allow oven temperature to reheat before starting another.
• Do not allow rolled dough to rest before baking; prepare just before putting in oven.