FLATBREADS WITH HAM

Rock ’n roll

The inspiration for this bread is the German Flammkuchen, a kind of cheeseless pizza with a delicious crispy dough.

Ingredients

(for 8 flatbreads)

5 cups cake flour, plus extra for kneading 10 g instant yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup lukewarm water

1 cup milk

1egg

¼ cup olive oil, plus extra for greasing 1 tub (230 g) cream cheese

16 slices smoked ham (or use crispy bacon strips)

4 spring onions, chopped

Here’s how 1Mix

the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the water, milk and egg. Mix the liquid with your hand from the inside in a circular motion so the flour is gradually incorporated until everything comes together to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead quickly until smooth and elastic. Although it is a moist dough, you can add extra flour if it’s too wet to knead.

2 Shape the dough into a ball and place in a mixing bowl greased with oil. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let it rise to double its volume – don’t rush, it will take at least 40 minutes depending on how warm it is.

3 Test your coals – the flatbreads are very thin and should braai quickly over fairly hot coals, but you don’t want to scorch them while they’re still raw.

4 Divide the dough into eight equal parts and roll out each piece into a flat rectangle or circle that’s roughly 5 mm thick. Dust a little more flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface.

5 Baste the first one with a little olive oil and braai it for a few minutes on a clean grid until golden brown with pretty grid lines. Carefully turn it over and now braai the other side until crisp. Repeat with with the rest of the flatbreads.

6 Spread a nice thick layer of cream cheese or crème fraîche over the hot breads, top with the smoked ham or crispy bacon, season with freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle over the spring onions.

Drive & Camp says Feel free to play with the topping ingredients you like. Pesto, olive tapenade and tomato purée instead of cream cheese are also delicious.