Turkish Bread (Fladenbrot)
Soft and fluffy Turkish flatbread, also known as Fladenbrot in Germany, is a round or oval focaccia-like bread that’s incredibly fluffy and easy to bake. The pillowy texture makes it a great wrapper for döner kebabs and sandwiches. A yeasted fluffy flatbread that’s easy to make, yet full of flavor, thanks to the unique taste of nigella seeds.
Growing up in Germany, I had my fair share of this Turkish bread growing up. Döner kebabs are an incredibly popular street food snack and commonly made with Fladenbrot. Turkish guest workers introduced the flatbread to Germans in the 1960’s and it has been popular ever since.
Similar to my Greek yogurt flatbreads, this no-knead bread is traditionally baked on clay rocks, creating a crisp base, yet fluffy and soft texture. To create a similar result at home, simply bake it on a lower rack in your oven or use a pizza stone.
I love to use Turkish bread to make cheese melt sandwiches at home. My grilled lamb sandwich is a delicious example.
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Turkish Bread (Fladenbrot)
Ingredients
Flatbread Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups water lukewarm
- 1 1/2 tsp active dried yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
Glaze & Topping
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp white sesame seeds
- 1 tsp black sesame or nigella seeds
Instructions
Activate yeast
- Add the yeast and sugar to the lukewarm water to activate the yeast. Mix well and set it aside.1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 tsp active dried yeast, 1 tsp sugar
Prepare flatbread dough
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt
- Add the activated yeast and olive oil, and thoroughly combine all ingredients until you have a smooth dough which will take 2-3 minutes.3 tbsp olive oil
- Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and rest it at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and add it to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Form a round flat circle, with a diameter of about 30cm. Add a check pattern with a large knife or simply add your fingertips to add dimples to the dough. Cover it with a tea towel for another 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Add a pizza stone if you have one.
- Combine the egg yolk with milk and mix it thoroughly. Brush the top of the flatbread generously with the glaze.1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp milk
- Sprinkle sesame and/or nigella seeds evenly onto the pide flatbread and bake it on the pizza stone or a baking tray for 25 minutes until golden brown. Best enjoyed while it's still warm!1/2 tsp white sesame seeds, 1 tsp black sesame or nigella seeds
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitution
- Flour – All-purpose flour works well for this recipe but you can use bread flour too.
- Water – Make sure to use filtered water as chlorine can negatively impact the taste and yeast. Use lukewarm filtered water, around 100F/37C, to activate the yeast.
- Yeast – I use active dried yeast but you can also use instant or fresh yeast.
- Glaze – Thoroughly mixed egg yolk and full-fat milk create the golden glaze. You can omit the yolk to make an egg-free and less golden bread.
- Nigella & sesame seeds – While both seeds give Turkish bread its traditional appearance, nigella seeds create the unique taste of this flatbread. They’re small black seeds and have a nutty, peppery flavor and they’re typically sold at specialty spice stores. You can replace them with black sesame seeds if needed.
Ways to use Turkish bread
Fill it: The pillowy texture makes this Turkish flatbread perfect for döner kebabs and sandwiches. My meatball wrap recipe and lamb kofta kebabs can be easily adapted.
Dipping: You can also cut it into strips and serve it with a platter, alongside mezze dishes, Turkish eggs (Cilbir), your favorite dip such as my harissa yogurt sauce, or simply enjoy it with some extra virgin olive oil.
Pizza: Cut it in half you can even use the Turkish flatbread as a base for homemade pizza including Turkish pizza.
Side: This soft flatbread makes a great side, especially for mopping up the sauce of pasta dishes or comforting meals incl. my stovetop beef stew. Perfect as a side for soups as well including my broccoli cheese soup.
