Grilled Flatbread
By America's Test KitchenPublished on August 22, 2007
Time
2 hours, plus 1½ to 2 hours rising
Yield
Makes 4 flatbreads (Each 9-inches)
Ingredients
Dough
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup water (8 ounces/227 grams), room temperature2 cups bread flour (11 ounces/312 grams), plus more for work surface1 tablespoon whole-wheat flour (optional)2 teaspoons sugar 1 ¼ teaspoons table salt 1 teaspoon instant yeastTopping
⅓ cup Olive oil or 1 recipe Spicy garlic Oil (see recipe below)Optional Topping Choices
2 ounces (57 grams) Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup) (optional)½ cup coarsely chopped herbs, such as thyme, parsley, basil, marjoram, and oregano (optional)3 tablespoons sesame seeds mixed with 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves; sprinkle lightly with lemon juice before serving (optional)½ cup chopped fresh oregano leaves and 6 ounces (170 grams) crumbled feta (optional)2 tablespoons minced anchovy, mixed with 6 tablespoons chopped black or green olives (optional)½ cup basil pesto or tapenade (optional)Spicy Garlic Oil
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 4 teaspoons)½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oilBefore You Begin
Flatbread can serve as a quick appetizer or a light accompaniment to a meal—once it's been cooked the coals should still be hot enough to grill meat or fish. For the best flavor and texture, grilled flatbread should be served as soon as possible. Spinkle with coarse salt before serving.
Instructions
- Combine oil and water in liquid measuring cup. In food processor fitted with plastic dough blade or metal blade, process bread flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, slowly add liquid through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms tacky, elastic ball that clears sides of workbowl, about 1 1/2 minutes. If dough ball does not form, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until dough ball forms. Spray medium bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. Transfer dough to bowl and press down to flatten surface; cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- When dough has doubled, press down gently to deflate; turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces. With cupped palm, form each piece into smooth, tight ball. Set dough balls on well-floured work surface. Press dough rounds with hand to flatten; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
- Gently stretch dough rounds into disks about 1/2 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Working one piece at a time and keeping the rest covered, roll out each disk to 1/8-inch thickness, 9 to 10 inches in diameter, on well-floured sheet of parchment paper, dusting with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If dough shrinks when rolled out, cover with plastic wrap and let rest until relaxed, 10 to 15 minutes.) Dust surface of rolled dough with flour and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking sheets of rolled dough on top of each other (with parchment in between) and covering stack with plastic wrap; set aside until grill is ready.
- For Charcoal Grill: Ignite 6 quarts (1 large chimney) hardwood charcoal or briquettes in chimney starter and burn until fully ignited, 15 to 20 minutes. Empty coals into grill and spread into even layer over three-quarters of grill, leaving one quadrant free of coals. Position cooking grate over coals and heat until grill is medium-hot, about 5 minutes (you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill grate for 4 seconds); scrape grate clean with grill brush. For Gas Grill: light all burners and turn to high heat, cover grill, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes; scrape cooking grate clean with grill brush.
- Lightly flour pizza peel; invert 1 dough round onto peel, gently stretching it as needed to retain shape (do not stretch dough too thin; thin spots will burn quickly). Peel off and discard parchment; carefully slide round onto hot side of grill. Immediately repeat with another dough round. Cook until tops are covered with bubbles (pierce larger bubbles with paring knife) and bottoms are grill marked and charred in spots, 1 to 2 minutes; while rounds cook, check undersides and slide to cool area of grill if browning too quickly. Transfer crusts to cutting board browned sides up. Repeat with 2 remaining dough rounds.
- Brush grilled sides of 2 crusts generously with garlic oil; top each evenly with one-quarter of topping, if using. Return flatbreads to grill; cook uncovered until bottoms are well browned and toppings are heated through, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer flatbreads to cutting board; repeat with remaining 2 crusts. Sprinkle flatbreads with salt to taste; cut into pieces and serve immediately.
- Spicy Garlic Oil:Cook all ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic starts to sizzle, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
for the crust
to grill
Time
2 hours, plus 1½ to 2 hours risingYield
Makes 4 flatbreads (Each 9-inches)Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Optional Topping Choices
Spicy Garlic Oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Optional Topping Choices
Spicy Garlic Oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Optional Topping Choices
Spicy Garlic Oil
Test Kitchen Techniques
Why This Recipe Works
The dough for our flatbread recipe was a challenge: It had to be slack enough to be stretched, yet strong enough not to rip. We strengthened the dough by using high-protein bread flour and increased elasticity by adding plenty of water and olive oil to prevent the crust from sticking to the grill. A little whole-wheat flour, sugar, and extra salt boosted the flavor even more.
Before You Begin
Flatbread can serve as a quick appetizer or a light accompaniment to a meal—once it's been cooked the coals should still be hot enough to grill meat or fish. For the best flavor and texture, grilled flatbread should be served as soon as possible. Spinkle with coarse salt before serving.
Instructions
- Combine oil and water in liquid measuring cup. In food processor fitted with plastic dough blade or metal blade, process bread flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, slowly add liquid through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms tacky, elastic ball that clears sides of workbowl, about 1 1/2 minutes. If dough ball does not form, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until dough ball forms. Spray medium bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray or rub lightly with oil. Transfer dough to bowl and press down to flatten surface; cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- When dough has doubled, press down gently to deflate; turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces. With cupped palm, form each piece into smooth, tight ball. Set dough balls on well-floured work surface. Press dough rounds with hand to flatten; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
- Gently stretch dough rounds into disks about 1/2 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Working one piece at a time and keeping the rest covered, roll out each disk to 1/8-inch thickness, 9 to 10 inches in diameter, on well-floured sheet of parchment paper, dusting with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If dough shrinks when rolled out, cover with plastic wrap and let rest until relaxed, 10 to 15 minutes.) Dust surface of rolled dough with flour and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking sheets of rolled dough on top of each other (with parchment in between) and covering stack with plastic wrap; set aside until grill is ready.
- For Charcoal Grill: Ignite 6 quarts (1 large chimney) hardwood charcoal or briquettes in chimney starter and burn until fully ignited, 15 to 20 minutes. Empty coals into grill and spread into even layer over three-quarters of grill, leaving one quadrant free of coals. Position cooking grate over coals and heat until grill is medium-hot, about 5 minutes (you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill grate for 4 seconds); scrape grate clean with grill brush. For Gas Grill: light all burners and turn to high heat, cover grill, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes; scrape cooking grate clean with grill brush.
- Lightly flour pizza peel; invert 1 dough round onto peel, gently stretching it as needed to retain shape (do not stretch dough too thin; thin spots will burn quickly). Peel off and discard parchment; carefully slide round onto hot side of grill. Immediately repeat with another dough round. Cook until tops are covered with bubbles (pierce larger bubbles with paring knife) and bottoms are grill marked and charred in spots, 1 to 2 minutes; while rounds cook, check undersides and slide to cool area of grill if browning too quickly. Transfer crusts to cutting board browned sides up. Repeat with 2 remaining dough rounds.
- Brush grilled sides of 2 crusts generously with garlic oil; top each evenly with one-quarter of topping, if using. Return flatbreads to grill; cook uncovered until bottoms are well browned and toppings are heated through, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer flatbreads to cutting board; repeat with remaining 2 crusts. Sprinkle flatbreads with salt to taste; cut into pieces and serve immediately.
- Spicy Garlic Oil:Cook all ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic starts to sizzle, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
for the crust
to grill
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