Moroccan Berber Skillet Bread Recipes

MOROCCAN BERBER SKILLET BREAD

Steps:

• 1. For starter: In a glass or ceramic bowl, combine 2/3 cup semolina flour with the all-purpose flour. Gradually stir in 3/4 cup water to make a wet dough. Mix in garlic, cover, wrap in a towel and leave in a warm place, like an unheated oven, for a day. 2. Uncover the starter, add 1/4 cup water and the remaining 1/2 cup semolina flour, and mix. Cover, wrap in a towel, and leave for 12 to 24 hours. The starter will get a crusty top and blossom underneath. Scoop out 1/2 cup starter and discard the rest, including garlic cloves. 3. Make the bread: In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine extra-fine semolina flour, the 1/2 cup of starter, the yeast and salt. Pulse once or twice. Add 1 cup warm water and process for 15 to 20 seconds to knead. Let rest 10 minutes. Pulsing food processor, trickle in another 1/4 cup water. Sprinkle a work surface with flour and turn dough onto it. Cover with an upside-down bowl for 10 minutes. Cut 4 1-foot squares of waxed or parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Divide dough in four and put each piece on a piece of a floured paper, turning to coat. Press each into an 8-inch circle. Cover with kitchen towels and let rise 1 hour. 4. When ready to cook, gently flatten each disk, then prick the tops all over with a fork. Heat an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet or griddle (or two, if you have them) over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the pan's surface with flour, then pick up a dough round and flip it into the pan, paper side up. Peel off the paper and adjust the heat so that the bread sizzles gently. When it is browned and blistered on the bottom, about 5 minutes, flip the bread out onto a plate, then slide it back into the pan to cook the other side. Cook about 2 minutes, shaking the skillet often to prevent sticking. When browned, firm and fragrant, slide onto a platter and serve immediately, or cover with a towel to keep warm while you cook the remaining breads.

BERBER SKILLET BREAD

Steps:

• Make the starter: In a glass or ceramic bowl, combine 2/3 cup semolina flour with the all-purpose flour. Gradually stir in 3/4 cup water to make a wet dough. Mix in garlic, cover, wrap in a towel and leave in a warm place, like an unheated oven, for a day.
• Uncover the starter, add 1/4 cup water and the remaining 1/2 cup semolina flour, and mix. Cover, wrap in a towel, and leave for 12 to 24 hours. The starter will get a crusty top and blossom underneath. Scoop out 1/2 cup starter and discard the rest, including garlic cloves (otherwise, as it continues to ferment, the smell would drive you out of your home).
• Make the bread: In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine extra-fine semolina flour, the 1/2 cup of starter, the yeast and salt. Pulse once or twice. Add 1 cup warm water and process for 15 to 20 seconds to knead. Let rest 10 minutes. Pulsing food processor, trickle in another 1/4 cup water. Sprinkle a work surface with flour and turn dough onto it. Cover with an upside-down bowl for 10 minutes. Cut 4 1-foot squares of waxed or parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Divide dough in four and put each piece on a piece of a floured paper, turning to coat. Press each into an 8-inch circle. Cover with kitchen towels and let rise 1 hour.
• When ready to cook, gently flatten each disk, then prick the tops all over with a fork. Heat an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet or griddle (or two, if you have them) over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the pan's surface with flour, then pick up a dough round and flip it into the pan, paper side up. Peel off the paper and adjust the heat so that the bread sizzles gently. When it is browned and blistered on the bottom, about 5 minutes, flip the bread out onto a plate, then slide it back into the pan to cook the other side. Cook about 2 minutes, shaking the skillet often to prevent sticking. When browned, firm and fragrant, slide onto a platter and serve immediately, or cover with a towel to keep warm while you cook the remaining breads. Serve with Moroccan almond-argan butter.

MOROCCAN ALMOND-ARGAN BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast until brown, about 10 minutes. Check and stir often after the first 8 minutes, to prevent overbrowning.
• Using a heavy mortar and pestle, and working in batches if necessary, grind warm almonds with salt into a smooth paste. (This can be done in a food processor, although the texture of the finished dip would not be as light.)
• About a tablespoon at a time, work in the oil, then mix until smooth and creamy. Add the honey in the same way. Taste for salt. Scrape into a serving bowl.

MOROCCAN BREAD

Steps:

• Soften the yeast in 1 tbsp sugared lukewarm water.
• Let stand a few minutes, then stir and set in a warm place until the yeast froths up.
• Meanwhile, mix the flours and salt together.
• Stir the yeast into the flour, then add the milk and enough lukewarm water to form a stiff dough.
• The amount of water you need will depend on your particular flour but I need about a cup.
• Add no more than 1/4 cup water at a time until you can see the dough coming together.
• To knead by hand, turn the dough out onto a board and knead hard, adding water if necessary.
• Knead for 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• I prefer to use an electric beater with a dough hook and this takes 7-8 minutes at a slow speed.
• Towards the end, add the spices.
• Split into two balls and let stand 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease a mixing bowl.
• Transfer the first ball of dough into the greased bowl and form a cone shape by holding the dough in one hand and rotating it against the side of the bowl.
• Turn out onto a baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Flatten the cone with the palm of your hand to make a disc that is about 5-6 inches across and slightly raised in the centre.
• Repeat with the second dough ball.
• Cover with a damp towel and let rise.
• Paula says to let it rise 2 hours but I found mine was done in about an hour.
• Preheat the oven to 200 C or 400°F.
• Using a fork, prick the bread around the sides 3-4 times.
• Bake on the centre shelf of the oven for 12 minutes, then lower the heat to 150 C or 300 F and bake 30-40 minutes more.
• Remove and let cool.
• Cut into wedges when you're ready to serve.