Friday, July 01, 2005

Syrian Bread

Today I made Syrian bread... I remember, when I was little, jumping on a trampoline with my friend eating our Syrian bread as we bounced. When we finished our pieces we would run swiftly back into the beach cabin and ask "Gram" for more. We would smother it in butter and run back out to the trampoline and repeat this over again until grandma said we couldn't have any more. "Gram" was my dear friend's great grandmother. They say that every morning she would get up and make a batch of Syrian bread.
When she passed away the family held a memorial service. At the service they passed out copies of the recipe for "Gram's Bread".

Gram's Bread

2 1/2 cups warm (110 degrees) water
2 packages of dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups wholewheat flour
6 cups white flour
1 tablespoon salt

In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients by hand, making a well in the center and slowly mixing the water in the center, incorporating the flour to form a soft dough. Knead for about 5 min. and cover the dough to double in bulk, about 2 hours. (Some cooks add up to 1/4 cup of olive oil to their dough.)
Punch down the dough and divide into about 8 baseball-sized balls. Set them on a floured towel to rise, about 45 min., and preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Place the top of a broiler pan in the lowest bottom rack of the oven. When the dough has again doubled, roll out the balls on a floured towel or board. You will slide the dough (rolled to resemble a pie crust) from a wooden paddle, like a pizza paddle (I used a spatula) onto the broiler pan. It will rise up like a ballon. Then shift the bread to the top rack with the paddle. Remove from the oven when small brown spots start to form on the top, about 2 or 3 min.
Remove and cool on brown paper bags or parchment paper- something that will keep them crisp and not let them get soggy. Store in zip-lock bags or in the freezer.

This bread somewhat resembles "pita bread".



"Baseball-sized balls rising on floured towel"


Rolling them out!




Baking...hmmm... I can't wait to eat these!


The finished product, ready to eat!


3 comments:

GunStreetGirl said...

Thnx!! I am interested in breadmaking. The Syrian Bread - so pleased to have it thnx to U.
Do you have any other bread receipes from the Middle East?

Satirah

Mrs. S said...

No, sorry I don't have any other bread recipes from the Middle East. I hope you enjoy making the Syrian bread!
Happy breadmaking!

Sir Gawain said...

What intresting bread! It looks sort of... ....like a pita correct?
-Andreas C. Munson
P.s. Reply on my blog!
P.P.s. Cecily sent some cookie recipies, do you thinkI could paste them on my blog or would that be wierd?
P.P.P.s.I hpoe you get more comments on your blog it is realy neat! -Andreas