Seasoned Norwegian Flatbread Recipes

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.

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.

NORWEGIAN FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400º.
• In large bowl combine whole wheat flour, sugar, butter and water. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir in all remaining ingredients using enough flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth (5 minutes).
• Divide dough in half; shape each half into 12x2 1/2 inch roll.
• Cut each roll into 12 portions.
• On lightly floured surface roll each portion to 1/8 inch thickness (flat breads will be irregular in shape).
• Place on cookie sheets.
• Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown.

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.

SEASONED FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper; place lavash on top.
• In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red-wine vinegar, lemon zest, and garlic. Brush mixture evenly over lavash; sprinkle with oregano. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
• Bake until golden and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Break in half, and serve.

SEASONED NORWEGIAN FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 F. Place all the flatbrread in piles, as it comes out of the package, on a bread board. Using a bread knife, saw the pieces into thirds or halves, cutting several thicknesses at a time. Combine butter, garlic, parmesan cheese and parsley. Thinly spread the mixture over the flatbread. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for just 5 minutes until lightly browned. Watch closely. Let cool and store in airtight containers. It freezes well. Serve at room temperature.