Ayaou Msemmen Recipes

AYAOU M'SEMMEN

Steps:

• Make a well in the center of the flour, place the salt in the well and add the water small amounts at a time. Knead well to form a very smooth dough. Using well oiled hands, make balls the size of a tangerine and place them on an oiled surface. Counter top, table, marble block etc.
• Spread out the balls one by one with the palm of your oiled hand stretching the dough gently in all directions until it is very thin.
• Fold in the 4 sides to form a square approximately 3-4 inches in size.
• Cook briefly in a well buttered skillet on both sides until lightly browned.
• Served with honey or sugar these are a wonderful breakfast or snack.
• We also stuff them(occasionally here in Morocco) before folding with sweet mixtures such as ground almonds and sugar or with onions, parsley, and spices; meat can be added as well. We like to stuff them with my precooked kefta (sometimes)but always with onions, parsley and tomato (either a bit of Hajar's Wicked Sauce Tomatish), fresh thinly sliced then diced tomato, pounded tomato or a small bit of tomato concentrate. If stuffing, these are always stuffed thinly, not as bulging pockets.
• The number of servings is an approximation and has to be as no 2 people make them into the exact same sized pieces. Cooking time is for cooking an entire batch.

MSEMEN (MOROCCAN FLATBREADS)

Steps:

• Make the dough: Place the flours, salt, warm water and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix and form a soft, smooth dough. If the mixture is too dry, gradually add a couple tablespoons of warm water. If it's too sticky, gradually add teaspoons of semolina flour. Once your dough is soft and smooth, lightly dust a work surface with semolina flour and knead the dough for about 8 minutes, until supple and elastic.
• Lightly grease a sheet pan with oil. Divide the dough into 9 equal pieces and form each into a ball. Place the balls on the sheet pan and use your hands or a brush to lightly rub the balls with oil, cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and melted butter. Generously oil your work surface and place a ball of dough on it. Flatten the ball lightly and spoon about 1/2 teaspoon butter mixture on top. Using your hands, flatten the dough as thin as you can to make an 8- to 10-inch circle and lightly sprinkle some semolina flour over the dough.
• Fold the msemen: Fold one-third of the top and bottom of the dough towards the center as you would to fold a letter, then fold one-third of the dough from the left and right sides towards the center to make about a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2-inch square. Place the folded msemen on the oiled work surface and cover with a clean cloth or plastic wrap. Repeat until you have folded all the dough balls, adding more oil to your work surface as necessary.
• Lightly oil and heat a griddle or a nonstick pan over medium-high. Transfer a folded msemen to the work surface, spoon another 1/2 teaspoon of the butter mixture on top and flatten it using your hands to make a 6-inch square. Gently place the flattened msemen on the warm pan and cook, turning several times and adjusting the heat and adding more oil to the pan as necessary, until golden and starting to puff, 60 to 90 seconds. Transfer to a plate and cover with a clean towel to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining msemen. Serve warm or at room temperature.