I'm not sure but whats the name of the middle eastern bread that looks like a pancake?

Question

few years ago I think I watched a documentary about Afganistan and they mentioned their food. mmmm everything looked so good!!!! I remember that its traditional to eat with right hand and their bread was thin, almost like a pancake and it looked like a pancake. well I cant remember well, but I'm sure it was something like this. I can still remember how that bread looks like. now I want one!!!! anyone knows what I'm thinking about?

well maybe they werent eating with right hand, but I can clearly remember their bread.

Answer 1

NAAN is NOT a pancake! It is a flatbread!

You were most likely referring to I think you are referring to Ahouifi M'semmen, which is a flaky flat griddle cake. They are delicious, here's the recipe:

Can be made either savory or sweet

Ahouifi M'semmen

(10 servings)

Ingredients:

2 pounds flour
2 and 1/2 cups water
1 Tablespoon salt
butter for frying
vegetable oil for kneading as needed
sugar for topping (optional)
cinnamon - optional

METHOD:

Combine flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add water a little at a time, mixing with hands.

On an oiled surface (helps a lot to oil up your hands too), knead the the dough until smooth. Rip off pieces of dough and roll to form golf-ball sized balls.

When all dough is made into balls (about 15 to 20 balls), press the balls down with your hand and then stretch dough until it is very thin. Fold in the edges to form a 3 or 4 inch square.

On a buttered skillet at medium high heat, cook each square until both sides are browned.

We like to sprinkle with sugar right away (sometimes cinnamon and sugar). You can also brush with honey.

For a savory version, omit the sugar & cinnamon.

Answer 2

The bread is called "tamis". It is eaten with lentils, or fava beans or other kinds of beans. You can use recipe for pita bread or nan. If the recipe does not call for shortening then add a tbsp to the flour and crumble it. But the trick is to preheat the oven at very hot temp ~450 then change to broil. Slightly grease cookie sheet, place the rolled-out dough about 9 inch in diameter. You can put 2 on 1 sheet. Gently pull the dough to look like a eggshape. Put the sheet on the top rack very close to the heat. The bread will puff in a few minutes and brown. Turn it over and do the same for about a few minutes,

Answer 3

From what you describe, it seems like Afghan bread or Nan-i-Afghani.

It is the national bread of Afghanistan, and is a flatbread and can be oval or rectangular. It is baked in a tandoor.

Afghans serve bread with most meals; it is used as an equivalent to a fork to envelop foods and soak up liquids on the plate. Generally the bread is torn into shreds and used to pinch the foods, similar to a sandwich.

The bread acts as both fork and spoon, as Afghan often use their hands to eat. The bread has no firm crust and tastes similar to Indian naan bread. It has a dense and rich taste.

If you dont remember how the bread looks, you will find pictures at :
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&tab=wi&hl=en&q=traditional%20bread%20of%20afghanistan

Answer 4

Pita sounds right. You might try some indian flat bread also. You can buy the mix in the grocery store. It is Native American indian bread. Easy to make, and tastes close to the same.

But I would go with the answers from folks that are from the mideast, after all they know their culture.

Answer 5

Traditional middle eastern bread is 'pita' without a doubt.Nan ,chapati etc are very definitely Indian /Pakistani flat breads,Nan is made with yeast as rising agent,while chapati is an unleavened bread ,

Answer 6

I think you are talking about "naan" bread (that what it sounds like when spoken). You can usually find it in the international section of a large supermarket or in an east-indian store. It however does not taste like a pancake but is quite yummy

Answer 7

Sounds like you are talking about naan, which is more like the Lebanese bread called Khoubiz than pita bread.

Answer 8

First of all it is not middle eastern, Afghanistan is not a middle eastern country.Secondly, the bread ur talking about is probably Nan, because it is widely used in these areas (India, Pakistan, Afganistan,....etc.). U can find the recipe in any cooking site, or frozen in a supermarket.

Answer 9

That is Naan Bread.
I adore all the diffrent style's of Middle Eastern breads.
I enjoy all the diffrent food's from that part of the world.

They really know how to eat!!!

Here is a recipe for Naan.

Naan Bread
Ingredients:

• 1 tsp sugar
• 3/4 cup (210 ml) water, warm
• 1 oz (30 g) dried yeast
• 1 lb (455 g) white flour
• 1 tsp nigella seeds
• 1 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp yogurt
• 2 tbsp ghee or butter, melted
• oil to coat

Preparation:

Dissolve sugar in the warm water and sprinkle yeast on it. Leave for 15 minutes. Make sure it froths, otherwise use a new batch.

Sift flour and salt into bowl and mix in nigella seeds.

Make a depression in the flour and pour in yogurt, ghee and the yeast mixture. Mix well and knead into a dough for about 10 minutes. form a ball.

Put a little oil in another bowl and turn the ball of dough in it until it is covered in oil. Discard excess oil. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to double in size - about 2 hours)

Knead the ball down again and divide into 6 portions. Flatten these in turn and mould into pear shapes. Place on a greased tray and bake for 10 -15 minutes at 450°F (230°C). Finish under grill if necessary.

Keep in mind to that theres all diffrent styles of Naan with different names as well.
One of my favorites that I eat with Indian food is a garlic Naan style bread.
They are called Paratha, They are so deliciouse.

This is called Methi Paratha:

If you don’t like the slight bitter taste of methi, use ¾ bunch instead.
Quantity 12-15 Parathas
Ingredients
1 bunch of Methi (green fenugreek)
3 cups wheat flour
1 cup Besan
7-8 fresh green chillies
7-8 garlic cloves
Salt, sugar as per taste
¼ tsp Haldi
Oil or Ghee

Method
1) Clean and wash leaves of methi & chop finely.
2) Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a pan, add chopped Methi & cook for 2 minutes. Keep aside for
cooling.
3) Grind green chillies, salt & garlic.
4) Mix wheat flour, besan, cooked methi, chilli-garlic paste, ½ tsp sugar, 2 tsp oil & haldi.
Add water as required for kneading the dough. Divide into equal portions.
5) Roll out each portion into a Paratha of 7-8 diameters.
6) Heat a tawa & place Paratha over it. Turn it and spread some oil/ghee around it.
7) Turn again and spread some oil on the other side &cook till both sides are evenly
cooked.
8) Serve hot with dahi/curd.

Answer 10

MIDDLE EASTERN FLAT BREAD or PITA BREAD

6 c. flour
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar
2 pkgs. yeast
2 1/2 c. warm water

Put 6 cups flour, 1 tbsp. salt and 2 tbsp. sugar in bowl. Proof 2 packages yeast in 1/2 cup water and 1 tsp. sugar. Add yeast mixture to bowl with 2 - 2 1/2 cups warm water (or enough water to make dough stiff enough to handle). Knead and let double.
Punch down and divide into 16 balls. Let stand for 10 minutes, then roll into 4 inch rounds. Place on ungreased sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 6-8 minutes. As they cool, they will collapse. If they don't, press gently, when cool, slit one side and fill.

Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!