Eating Healthier in Today's World

Easy Flat Bread from Around the World

We have recently been able to get one of our favorite little appliances back in stock that lets us make all kinds of different flat breads.  It is our Tortilla and Flat Bread Maker and Iron.   Since I like to know what I am feeding myself and my family, I like to mill my own fresh ground flour with the Nutrimill grain mill and then use that wonderful whole wheat flour to make tortillas and several kinds of flat breads as well as crepes using this little iron.  Even some of East Indian friends love it for flattening and cooking rotis which are very similar to tortillas.  We use to offer cooking classes at our store using some of the following recipes.  They make a great change from regular breads and for people who have problems with yeast these are the answer.  We will start with the easiest and work towards our wonderful Mandarin Pancakes which are a stuffed flat bread.   We have included a recipe for Chepatis or Roti bread in with the Tortilla Recipe printable copy.  They are treated just a bit different to make them puff up. Bon Appetite!

Click here for printable Tortilla and Chapatis recipes

Basic Flour Tortillas - For those who wish to make white flour tortillas which although not as tasty as the whole wheat ones still fill the bill.  

2 cups unbleached flour

Either using the Bosch food processor attachment or the Mini dough hook in the Bosch Slicer/Shredder attachment, place flour and salt in the bowl.  Adding shortening and process for about 3 sec.  With machine running pour water through food tube in a steady stream.  Let machine run until the dough forms a ball.  Dough should be a medium stiff consistency.  Divide dough into 12 to 15 equal pieces and roll into small balls, and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rest for 30 min.  Place ball near the back of the preheated tortilla maker and press quickly with moderate pressure( approx. 1 sec.) and open.  Press lid down several more to achieve desired size and thickness.  Flip over in 30 sec. and let cook on the reverse side.  Do not cook both sides at once as the steam will destroy the crispness.  Re-heat flour tortillas on the tortilla press without closing the lid, or wrap stacks of 6-8 tortillas in foil and reheat in a 325 degree F. oven for 15 to 20 min.

Corn Tortillas - These are slightly different than the flour tortillas and you get the best results using Masa Harina from the grocery store rather than milling corn flour.  Masa is corn that is treated with lime to remove the yellow husks before using for tortillas.   Click here for printable Tortilla recipes.

Place flour and salt in the Bosch food processor attachment or  the Bosch Slicer/shredder bowl equipped with the mini dough hook.  With the machine running pour water through the food tube until the dough forms a ball.  If the dough is too stiff add a little more water.  Divide into 12 to 15 pieces, roll into balls and cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 min.  Place ball at the back of the pre-heated tortilla maker and press down quickly ONLY ONCE, open the lid and let bake for 30 sec. on each side.  If you press down more than once you will get lacy, holes in the tortillas.  To reheat corn tortillas, wrap 10 to 12 tortillas in a clean, heavy towel and place in a steamer over 2 inches of water for 1 min.  Remove pot from heat and let stand for 15 to 20 min. covered.

Lefse (Scandinavian Potato Pancakes)  - These are a tradition for Christmas time in Norway and Sweden.  They are yummy!

Mix riced cooked potatoes with cream and butter and add flour until a smooth, soft dough is formed.  Shape into golf ball size pieces.  Heat the tortilla press and place on the baking surface and press down moderately once only.  Left the lid and let bake for 30 sec. to a minute before flipping to bake on reverse side.  Serve either with cinnamon and sugar or butter rolled up inside.

Click here for printable Lefse Recipe

Norwegian Flat Bread - This is more of a sweet cracker cookie than a soft bread and they taste wonderful

1/4 cup sugar

Place the liquids in the Bosch Universal bowl equipped with the cookie paddles and mix for 20 sec.  Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.  Cover with saran and let rest for 10 min.  Divide into large golf ball size portions and place on hot tortilla press.  Press down once with moderate pressure for 1 sec.  and then press again a few times to get thinner bread.  Lift the lid and let bake approx.. 1 in. until crisp and then flip over and bake on the reverse side for 1 min.

Click here for printable Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe

Mandarin Pancakes

Make as for flour tortillas.  After the rest period forma a 15 inch log and cut into 24 equal pieces.  Keep covered with plastic wrap.  Roll each piece of dough into a ball and flatten to about 2 inches.  Brush one side of each round evenly to edges with oil.  Place oiled surfaces together and press the two rounds firmly together.  Place double rounds on hot tortilla press, and close and open immediately, and let bake for a few seconds and turn and bake on the other side a few seconds.  Pull the two pancakes apart after cooking.  Stack on a plate and keep covered with a cotton towel to keep warm

1 10 oz. pack frozen spinach

Brown the sausage meat and drain the excess fat.  Add spinach, ricotta, egg, grated parmesan, oregano and pepper and mix well.  Spread 1/4 cup of filling in each mandarin pancake and roll to enclose filling.  Pour half of the marinara sauce in a shallow baking dish and place the filled pancakes in the dish seam side down in the dish.  Spoon remaining sauce over cannelloni, and top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese.  Bake uncovered in a 400 F. degree oven for 30 min.

Click here for printable Mandarin Pancake Recipe