If you are on social media you are well aware of the Quarantine Baking wave. Everybody is on a baking trend. In fact, I’ve seen more sourdough starters in the last few weeks than I ever have in my life; a trend I’m sure due to the lack of available yeast in stores. There is certainly no yeast to be found around me. Believe me, I searched everywhere after my food blogger friends, the Great Eight Friends enticed me with their mouthwatering recipe for Soft Pretzels.
Not being a baker, yeast is not something I usually have in the house. I occasionally may use the yeast substitute of equal parts lemon juice and baking soda in a pinch. It’s not quite as good as the real thing, but does speed up the rising time. That rising time is one reason why I’m not a baker–I don’t have much patience when it comes to cooking. Lucky for me, these easy flatbreads come togehter as quickly as most dinners do and no yeast is needed. These flatbreads are an excellent way to use up fresh or dried herbs, too. I usuallly add green onions to these flatbreads, since I always have them growing in my kitchen window. We love the green onion flatbreads with Indian food–so perfect for mopping up curry sauces.
The last time I made flatbread, I divided the dough in half and saved the other half for an after dinner treat. Hubby is not much of a dessert fan, but he loves cinnamon. These fried flatbreads finished with butter, honey, and cinnamon sugar are a combination of sopapillas and churros–both of which he enjoys, so dessert win for me. Next time, I plan on having some vanilla bean ice cream to enjoy with the hot cinnamon sugar flatbreads.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 TBSP melted butter
- 1 TBSP honey
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually stir in 1/4 cup of boiling water until a loose dough is formed. Kneed the dough with floured hands for 2 minutes or until smooth. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Break off dough by the tablespoons, roll or press into thin ovals.
- Stir together melted butter and honey. Set aside.
- Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a cast iron frying pan 1/4 inch high. Heat over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, cook the flatbreads, a few at a time, for 20-25 seconds per side or until golden. Drain.
- Brush each with the honey butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- Serve warm.
Notes
For Herbed Flatbreads: Add 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1 TBSP Fresh herbs or 1 tsp dried herbs to the flour and salt before adding water.
Put on Your TO COOK IS TO CREATE Thinking Cap: Want to add more flavor to the flatbread dough? Add ginger, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, ground cloves, allspice, or even more cinnamon to the flour before adding the water. What other flavors could you brush on the flatbreads: agave nectar, molasses, maple syrup? Not a cinnamon sugar fan? Sprinkle powdered sugar onto the warm flatbreads. Chocolate lover? Sprinkle warm flatbreads with cocoa powder or dip in chocolate. Banana split lover? Use the flatbreads as a base for your favorite sundae.
FOOD FUN: Want the flavor of these sweet flatbreads even QUICKER? Have leftover rolls or stale bread? Make these Brown Bag Bites and get shakin’ in the kitchen.
BREAD…got my attention! Just love bread in any shape or form. This is a very easy, tasty recipe for flat bread. It is great as a snack or enjoy with a meal.
Thanks Susanne for such clever ideas. Yum!
Can’t get any easier!! So glad you enjoy them!
Great flatbreads! I’ve been making a lot of “soda” breads too in addition to some Fast Rise Breads — one rise, 10 minutes of kneading, 20 minutes of baking and that’s it.
Self Rising Flour is harder to find here than AP, and they only sell tiny bags. Good thing I know how to add Baking Soda!
Equal parts of Lemon Juice & Baking Soda — gonna have to try that! I use lemon juice to make Imitation Buttermilk for Irish Soda Bread and Scottish Oatmeal Bread.
Try adding some Masa Harina to your flour, or sub some of the AP. Gives you a hint of Mexico.
Masa Harina amazing idea, thanks so much!! Thanks also for a reminder of soda breads, I remember my grandmother used to make those all the time!! Going to have pull out the recipe. Everything old is definitely new again with this pandemic.