Seasoned Norwegian Flatbread Food

NORWEGIAN FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Mix corn meal, flour, and lard together and add enough cold water to hold together like a pie crust.
• Roll out very thin with grooven rolling pin and bake slowly on an ungreased electric griddle, or in a moderate oven, 325 to 350 degrees.
• Watch closely. When it begins to get a light golden brown, turn and bake on other side.
• Let dry out completely before putting into a container. Keep in a dry place.

TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN FLATBREAD- FAST & NO MACHINE REQUIRED!

Steps:

• First, make your vegan buttermilk by placing the lemon juice in the soymilk and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
• Combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oil, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Mix well.
• Slowly add just enough "buttermilk" to make a stiff dough.
• Knead dough for 30 seconds on a well-floured surface, such as a board or tabletop.
• Roll a medium-sized handful of dough (about 1/4 cup worth) into a ball and then pat it down into a flat circle. Be sure to cover the remaining dough so it doesn't become too dry.
• With a floured rolling pin and on a well-floured surface, roll dough into a very thin 10-inch circle. (If dough is sticking to the surface on which you are working, dust it with more flour.).
• Place flatbread on an ungreased cookie sheet. (I would recommend using a 10" pie pan instead.) To make all your flatbread pieces the same shape and size, score the dough circles with a knife, making triangles, X's, squares, or whatever shapes you prefer. (After baking, the flatbread will be broken into pieces along the scored lines.).
• Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes. Flatbread should be crisp and slightly brown around the edges. Cool on a wire rack and repeat with remaining dough.
• Break flatbread into pieces and serve plain or with desired topping, such as cheese, dips, or lingonberry preserves.

NORWEGIAN FLATBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl or in the food processor, blend the pureed potato, flour, and salt together.
• Add the water and blend well until the dough will hold together in a cohesive ball. With a sharp knife, divide into 10 equal portions. Turn these out, one at a time, onto a floured surface and roll into circles.
• Roll as thin as possible, at most 1/8 inch, so each is approximately 7 to 8 inches across. Prick all over with the tines of a fork.
• Lightly oil a griddle or large skillet and heat until it is very hot. One by one, place the rolled circles onto the griddle and cook until the bottoms begin to show light browning. Then turn and cook the other side.
• Keep turning until the whole cracker is dry and crisp. Do not allow the flatbread to get more than medium brown. Cool on a rack.
• VARIATIONS: Substitute any pureed vegetable for potatoes. Flours other than rye can also be used. Try wheat or barley. If the dough is too sticky to roll, add a little more flour. Letting the dough rest for an hour after mixing will also make it easier to roll.
• Flatbread can also be cooked in the oven. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 400~F. for 8 to 12 minutes, or until crisp, turning 2 or 3 times.

NORWEGIAN FLATBREADS

Steps:

• In medium saucepan over high heat, combine potatoes and cold water to cover. Cover and bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well and force potatoes through ricer or food mill into large bowl. Stir in butter. Add salt and cream and stir until smooth. Add flour and stir until dough forms (do not overmix). Cover and chill at least 6 hours and up to 3 days.
• In small bowl, whisk together sugar and cinnamon. Lightly oil 10-inch cast iron skillet and set over moderately low heat. Have ready rolling pin, pastry bench scraper, and thin metal spatula.
• Turn dough out onto well-floured work surface. Using pastry bench scraper, cut in half and return half to bowl. Cut other piece in half again; cut 1 piece into 8 small pieces and reserve other piece.
• Pat 1 small piece to flatten. Dough may be very soft and sticky, depending on moisture content of potato - add some of 3 cups flour as needed to prevent sticking. Using scraper, flip dough over and pat again to flatten. Roll patty out to 7-inch circle.
• Using pastry bench scraper, carefully transfer flatbread to hot skillet and cook until dough bubbles and is beginning to brown underneath, less than 1 minute. Using thin, flexible metal spatula, flip flatbread over and cook other side until lightly brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to plate and brush off any excess flour. Scrape any excess flour out of skillet.
• Repeat rolling and cooking with 8 small pieces of dough, then divide remaining piece of dough on counter into 8 pieces and roll and cook each piece. Repeat process with remaining dough in bowl to make 32 flatbreads.
• To serve, brush warm lefse with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, and roll up. Serve warm.

LEFSE- NORWEGIAN FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Peel and cut potatoes. Boil in well salted water until soft. Use more salt than you normally would. You do not want to add salt once they are cooked as it will not dissolve as well.
• Drain well and return to pot. Steam for a few minutes to ensure all water has been evaporated.
• Measure out 4 cups of potatoes, packed well. Rice potatoes now while potatoes are still hot. You may have potatoes left over.
• Place riced potatoes in a plastic bowl with a good sealing lid. Add butter and milk and mash with a HAND masher. Do NOT use an electric mixer as it will get sticky.
• Allow to cool on the counter until potatoes are at room temperature then place several paper towels on top, seal tightly with the lid and place in the refrigerator overnight.
• Next day: Much easier to work with. Mix in flour and sugar and form into small balls. Now roll them out thin and flat using a rolling pin, preferably one with grooves and covered with a sock. You can just cut an old CLEAN sock and slide it over the rolling pin.
• Using a lefse stick or a long flat stick or long thin spatula roll the raw lefse around the stick and then unroll onto a HOT griddle (450 degrees) Flip once the first side starts to form bubbles and is lightly browned or freckled. Cook other side just until lightly browned.
• Using stick again remove lefse from griddle to a towel and place a towel on top to keep them warm and pliable.
• Eat warm or store in the refrigerator in a well sealed container lined with more paper towels. Can also be frozen with waxed paper between each lefse.