Authentic Moroccan Bread
"This recipe was modified from Paula Wolfert's cookbook. The barley flour gives the bread a more authentic taste but whole-wheat flour can be substituted."
photo by wicked cook 46
- Ready In:
- 1hr 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Yields:
-
2 6 inch loaves
ingredients
- 1⁄4 ounce active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 cups unbleached flour
- 1 1⁄2 cups barley flour
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1⁄2 cup lukewarm milk
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons sesame seeds (optional) or 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds (optional)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 tablespoons cornmeal
directions
- Add the sugar to 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. Then add the yeast and stir to soften. Let it sit in a warm place until the yeast is bubbly & doubles in volume, roughly 2 minutes.
- Mix the flours & salt in the large mixing bowl. After yeast is ready add it to the flour along with the milk. Add enough lukewarm water to the mixture to form a stiff dough.
- Note:Flours differ in their ability to absorb moisture so no precise amount can be given. Add a small amount at a time. If you have added too much the mixture will be extra sticky and it will be hard to get off your hands. The right consistency should allow the dough to pull easily off your fingers.
- Place the dough onto a lightly floured board & knead hard with closed fists, pushing outward. During the final part of kneading, add 1 tsp of cumin or sesame seeds. It will take between 10-15 minutes to knead the dough thoroughly. You will know it is ready when it achieves a smooth, elastic consistency. (If you are using an electric beater with a dough hook, knead 7-8 minutes on a slow speed.).
- Take the thoroughly kneaded dough & form it into two balls & let it stand for 5 minutes on the board.
- Sprinkle cornmeal onto two baking sheets & place to the side. Then lightly grease a mixing bowl with oil. Transfer the first ball of dough to the bowl. Roll the dough along the sides while rotating bowl with your other hand, this will make the dough into a cone shape.
- Place the dough, wide end down, onto the first baking sheet. Flatten the cone with the palm of your hand to form a disc about 5 inches in diameter with a slightly raised center. Repeat with the second ball. Lightly sprinkle the remaining seeds on top of the bread.
- Cover each disc loosely with a damp towel & let it rise for about 2 hours in a warm place. The dough will be ready when you can gently pole your finger into it & it will not spring back into place.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a fork, poke the bread 3 to 4 times & place in the center shelf of the oven. Bake for 12 minutes, then lower the heat to 300 degrees & make 25-30 minutes more.
- To give the bread a nice brown color, turn the oven on broil. Watch the bread carefully, once it is golden, turn it over to brown the other side. Remove from the oven & let cool.
- Note: When done, the bread will sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
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Reviews
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I tried making my own barley flour by placing barley in my food processor. I was able to make about 3/4 cup flour. For the other 3/4 cup I used rice flour. In deference to DH's preferences I didn't add any seeds. We loved the bread. It had a lovely crust on the outside and a nice soft, dense inside. Made for Ramadan Tag. -
Crust was hard but loved the flavor. Went great with our Moroccan lentil stew. -
I have never made bread before and this was so easy and fun! I wanted Moroccan bread to go with a Moroccan tagine I was preparing and this was perfect! I didn't have barley flour so I used bread flour instead. For those like me who don't know what "stiff dough" means, I found that adding little bits of warm water at a time helped make the dough into one cohesive lump that didn't stick too much to my fingers. The cumin seeds were a big hit! Everyone at dinner agreed that they added a lovely aromatic quality to the bread. Thanks for this awesome recipe! :-) -
Excellent bread recipe I have made Paula Wolfert's version many times, so this was a nice surprise. I used Nigella seeds on top as I like the taste nuances, and the breads came out perfect! On the "High Altitude" baking note from another member, being an Executive Pastry Chef and having worked for many years at High Altitude, (6,300 ft,) here is a tip": There really is no adjustment for yeast doughs per se. I think you had the oven temp to low at 350F. You might want to lower the oven temperature only 15F - 25F degrees max. Also, frequently you need to add a little more liquid as flours tend to dry out due to the lower humidity, but that varies depending on region. That is all, it will work excellently. Happy Baking!
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Unable to find barley flour, I substituted whole wheat flour. Added the cumin seeds. Was quite tasty. Be aware, this is a dense and very hearty bread.
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Tweaks
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I used bread flour instead of barley flour.
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This bread was wonderful, we really enjoyed it and I'll be making it again soon. Instead of sesame seeds or cumin I used za'atar. I also used watered down yogurt instead of milk since I like the flavor that gives to breads. Thank you for a keeper Nasseh. -
This bread was easy to make and came out very good! It was very dense inside with a fairly crispy crust. I used wheat flour in place of the barley flour. This was my first try at making a bread like this one and I was very pleased with the results - thanks for sharing your recipe!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Nasseh
United States
Follower of Jesus: I have a strong faith in God & his love for all of us. He is the first & last in my life and it is my desire to tell others of His greatest gift to us...His Son. Explorer: I love to learn about new cultures & try new foods. While in Morocco I learned to appreciate the use of spices. Wife: I'm married to my best friend. Sister: I am the oldest of six children. Mother: My son lives in CA while my daughter lives close to me. Grandmother: My beautiful granddaughter has stolen my heart.
