Day: August 24, 2018

1.25cup /310ml warm water (40oC)
10g active dried yeast (1 packet)
1 tbsp / 15g sugar
1 tbsp / 15g kosher salt
3.75cup / 450g all-purpose flour
0.75cup / 180g Greek-style yogurt
30ml extra virgin olive oil
0.25cup / 5g chopped parsley

Combine the yeast, sugar, and water into a medium-large bowl and stir well. Allow to sit in a warm place for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. The mixture will be foamy and bubbly when activated. Whisk in the Greek yogurt olive oil and salt.

Add flour and parley and stir with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula and until the dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a well-floured counter and turn to coat. Knead for 3-4 minutes or until dough is no longer sticky and springs back when lightly pressed. Sprinkle more flour onto the counter if the dough is sticky during kneading.

Divide dough into 10 equal pieces, sprinkle lightly with flour, then cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Preheat a medium saucepan to a medium-low heat. While pan is heating, roll one of the dough portions into an approximately 7-inch circle. Brush the top surface lightly with extra virgin olive oil. When the pan is hot, pick up the first circle with your hand and place in pan, oiled side down. Lightly brush the top surface with oil. Allow to the flatbread to cook for about 1 to 1. 5 minutes, until top surface is covered with bubbles and underside is golden around the edges and in spots.

Flip to opposite side and cook for another 60-90 seconds until a few small golden spots appear. Don’t overcook on the second side. Repeat rolling, oiling and cooking with remaining portions of dough.

Sprinkle flatbreads with a bit more chopped parsley when finished, if desired. Stack flatbreads in a clean kitchen towel after cooking to steam a bit and retain softness.

When cool, store in a ziplock bag. Reheat in a pan without oil for a minute or two on each side OR wrap flatbreads in paper toweling and heat in the microwave on low power until warm.

Notes:

You can make these flatbreads thicker or thinner by rolling the dough rounds bigger or smaller.

Since every stove is different, you might have to experiment a little bit with the first flatbread. You want the heat high enough that bubbles appear on the top surface and the underside is getting a few golden spots after about 45 seconds to 1 minute. If you’re not seeing the bubbles, increase the heat. If the underside is getting brown too fast, decrease the heat a bit.

Brush the dough rounds lightly with olive oil. You want to cover the surface but you don’t want greasy flatbread.

The amount of kosher salt sounds like a lot, but it’s divided between 10 large flatbreads. If you use regular iodized salt instead of kosher salt, definitely use less (0.5 tbsp / 7.5g)

300g cauliflower florets
300g dried macaroni (or any other tubular pasta)
600ml milk
200g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
100g mild cheese (havarti, gouda), grated
60g butter, plus a few extra knobs
4 tbsp plain flour
2 tsp mustard powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Sea salt, to taste
3 tbsp fresh white breadcrumbs
1 tbsp thyme leaves

Bring a large pan of well-salted water to the boil. Add the cauliflower and cook for 4–5 minutes until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and chill in a bowl of ice-cold water to prevent it from cooking any further. Drain well.

Tip the macaroni into the boiling salted water and cook according to packet instructions. Drain, refresh under cold, running water and drain again. Mix the macaroni, cauliflower and a few knobs of butter together in a large bowl.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Heat the 60g butter in a pan, and stir in the flour and mustard powder to make a roux. Gradually add the milk, beating continuously with a balloon whisk until the mixture is smooth. Slowly bring to the boil over a low heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture thickens. Season well with cayenne pepper and sea salt to taste.

Mix the cheeses together and stir half into the white sauce. Mix well until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth again. Add the macaroni and cauliflower to the sauce and mix well to coat. Spread the mixture into a large, wide gratin dish.

Combine the remaining cheeses with the breadcrumbs and thyme leaves. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cauliflower mixture. Bake for about 15–20 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp. Serve immediately.