Khubz Maghrebi Moroccan Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 2 1/2 cups warm water in a large bowl. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Stir salt into yeast mixture. Gradually stir in 7 cups flour, one cup at a time, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until dough forms a ball.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape dough into a 12-inch log. Divide dough into 3 pieces then shape each piece into a 4-inch dome-shaped loaf.
• Place loaves on a baking sheet lightly covered with flour. Dust tops lightly with 2 teaspoons flour, and lightly coat with cooking spray. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85F), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.).
• Position oven rack in lower third of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Uncover loaves, and brush each with 1 teaspoon oil. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. It should sound hollow when tapped (bread will not brown). Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in about a half cup of the lukewarm water. Let stand until frothy.
• Sift the flour together with the salt and add the yeast mixture. Knead by hand until the dough is soft, adding water as necessary. Add the oil and keep kneading until the dough becomes elastic and is no longer sticky, which should take about 15 minutes.
• Now form the dough into a ball and rub all over with a little bit of olive oil, to prevent it from drying out. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down and knead for another five minutes or so. Now break the dough into tennis-ball sized portions. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll flat, until each ball is about a quarter inch thick. Dust with flour and transfer to a lightly floured surface, leaving a few inches between each one to allow for rising. Let rise for another 30 to 60 minutes.
• Oil two large baking sheets. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. About 10 minutes into the preheating, put the sheets in the oven. Leave them there for another 10 minutes.
• Now open your oven and quickly transfer the dough balls onto the baking sheets.
• Bake for 6 to 10 minutes. When the breads are lightly browned, take them out. Let cool.
• Each piece should have formed a pocket while baking.