Saj Bread

Saj bread is a beloved staple of Lebanese cuisine, known for its thin, soft texture and versatility. Traditionally cooked on a convex Saj grill, this unleavened flatbread is perfect for wraps, sandwiches, or as an accompaniment to countless dishes. Here, you'll learn how to recreate this culinary classic in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

🌾 4 cups all-purpose flour, King Arthur
💧 1 ½ cups water, filtered or bottled
🧂 1 teaspoon salt, Morton
🌱 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast, Fleischmann's
🍬 1 teaspoon sugar, Domino
🫒 2 tablespoons olive oil, California Olive Ranch

Instructions

1- Prepare the Dough:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of instant dry yeast.
• Gradually add 1 ½ cups of warm water, mixing until a soft dough forms.
• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

2- Let It Rise:

• Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

3- Divide and Rest:

• Punch down the risen dough and divide it into small, equal-sized balls. Let them rest for an additional 10 minutes under a damp cloth to relax the gluten.

4- Roll Out the Dough:

• Use a rolling pin to roll each dough ball into a thin, large circle. Aim for about 12 inches in diameter. The dough should be almost transparent.

5- Cook on Saj:

• Preheat the Saj grill (or a large, convex griddle, if available) on medium-high heat.
• Carefully transfer the rolled dough onto the hot surface using a dough pillow, and cook for about 30-60 seconds until bubbles form and the bottom is lightly browned.

6- Finish and Stack:

• Flip the bread and cook the other side for an additional 30 seconds.
• Remove the bread from the grill and stack on a clean towel.
• Repeat for all dough balls.

7- Cool and Serve:

• Once cooled, package the Saj bread by folding it into quarters and placing it in plastic bags for storage.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: Approximately 10 pieces.
Calories Per Serving: 150
Proteins: 4g
Fats: 3g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Equipment:

• Saj Grill: Traditional Lebanese cooking tool.
• Rolling Pin: No specific brand.
• Dough Pillow: Used for transferring thin dough.

Cooking Tips

• Ensure your dough is elastic enough to be stretched to prevent tearing.
• Use a dough pillow to effortlessly transfer the delicate dough to the grill.
• Preheat the grill properly to achieve those perfect bubbles.

#lebanesecuisine #sajbread #flatbread #homemadebread #traditionalcooking