Monday, August 29, 2011

Tuscan Flatbread inspired by the book A Thousand Days in Tuscany

Of all the amazing recipes Marlena De Blasi shared in her book, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, this was one I knew I wanted to try. I have been wanting to get a handle on bread making and what better way than to jump in with many different varieties.



Tuscan Flatbread – from the book A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena De Blasi

This makes two 15-inch flatbreads

1 TB active dry yeast
1 scant teaspoon dark brown sugar
2 ¾ cups tepid water
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 teaspoons fine sea salt
6 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely ground yellow cornmeal
2 TB fresh rosemary leaves, minced to a powder


In large bowl mix yeast and sugar with tepid water, stirring until grains of sugar are dissolved. Cover with plastic wrap and let activate 10 minutes. Stir oil and salt together and pour into yeast mixture.




Begin adding the flour, a cup at a time, stirring after each dose. Add the cornmeal all at once, mix to form a soft, dry dough.



Add additional flour – a tablespoon at a time – if the dough feels sticky.

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and gently knead it for 10 minutes. Place dough in a clean, lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap for an hour until doubled in size.



Punch it down, divide into two, and stretch each piece on a lightly oiled 12-inch baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. The dough will fight a bit but don’t be tempted to use a rolling pin. Use your fingertips and stretch to the edge of pan, let it rest. Go back to it and stretch again, After it’s rested it will be more compliant.

Cover with kitchen towel and let rise for a half hour.

Preheat oven to 450 F. After the second rise press your knuckles in and make indentations. Drizzle the top with oil, rosemary and sea salt.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.



Review may be found at Novel Meals........

18 comments:

  1. Happy Monday, Tina!!!
    Your flat bread looks heavenly. You did a GREAT job of getting a "handle on bread making." I'm saving this link. I WILL make bread before the years ends, I think I can, I think I can....

    Thank you so much for sharing...

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  2. This is the first I hear of Marlena De Blasi; you sure justice to her flat brad. Beautiful presentation; would sure love to try my hand at this.
    Rita

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  3. Louise, I know you can do it!!

    Rita, it was easy and I am not always successful with the bread making so....I felt pretty good about it. Thank you!

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  4. Foccacia? Love bread - never make it ... it's the whole I don't bake thing I think. Says the woman who made banana bread for the man she's lived with for 12 years for the first time on Sunday. A loaf of banana bread he has already finished!
    I know ...
    Mrs L

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  5. Mrs L, I have the utmost confidence you can make bread. Now didn't your scarf down that banana bread? There you go..

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  6. That bread looks so hearty! I'd love a piece with some soup!

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  7. swell job, very envious of you and your bread making skills, I still have a hard time with frozen biscuits...

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  8. That would be the other end of this relationship doing the scarfing ... he found a banansa flambed in tequila recipe last night, so there'll be no more banana bread (with leftover bananas) for a while either ;o)

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