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Msemmen : Algerian flatbread from my kitchen

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When I was searching for flat bread recipes from African continent, one recipe got my interest, that is Mesmmen: Algerian flatbread by Farid Zadi  . It looks like Indian parathas or even Kerala parotta. Recipe is calling for whole wheat flour, cumin, parprika, and turmeric and olive oil. So there are no unhealthy ingredients in it, why we can’t try it? I decided and told my taste tester (hubby) that I am going to make Algerian flatbread and chana for our dinner. What? I told him don’t worry it will be like our paratha or flavoured chapathis. Upon hearing this he readily agreed and said that we can make it for our dinner. 

After getting pregnant with my little one; chapathi making department was taken over by my hubby. He makes really good and smooth chapathi, even though shape will look like different continent. Who cares if they are eating Australia or Africa? It is chapathi is in it? If it soft and tasty why worry about shape. I am also not good in making exact round chapathi. Mouth or stomach is not going to ask why you haven’t done a perfect round chapathi.
I told my dear hubby that ingredients list and amount of water should be added to flour. I told him slowly add water, however he adds entire amount of water specified in the recipes end up with sticky dough. Finally he corrected with adding extra flour to make smooth dough. 
I made the spice oil, however reduced the amount of turmeric powder and made Mesemmen; it tastes chapathi and looks like parotta. We enjoyed with our chana masala. If you like flavored paratha or parotta go for it at least once. Here goes the recipe. In my opinion reduce water and spice oil amount, as I was left with half of spice oil unused. 

What you need

Whole wheat flour/ Atta: 3 cup+ ⅙ cup
Salt: 1 teaspoon
Olive oil: ⅓cup (original recipe asked for ½ cup)
Water: 1 ½ cup (Use 1 ¼ cup)
For spice oil
Cumin: 1 teaspoon
Paparika: 1 teaspoon
Turmeric: ¼ teaspoon (original recipe asked for 1 teaspoon)

How I made
Make dough:
In a large bowl stir together flour, salt and 1 tablespoon of oil. Slowly add water  and mix until a soft dough forms. Knead,  dough into a smooth  one similar to chapathi forms, it takes about 15 minutes.
Form dough into a ball and coat with 2 tablespoons oil in a bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough stand at warm room temperature 1 hour.

In a small bowl mix cumin, paprika, turmeric powder, and remaining ¼ cup oil .

Form flatbreads
Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and, keeping remaining pieces covered with plastic wrap, flatten 1 piece of dough into a disk. Roll out disk as thinly as possible (into a 9-inch round) on a lightly floured surface with a 6-inch wooden dowel or a rolling pin. Spread 1 teaspoon spiced oil on dough, with back of teaspoon, then roll up tightly into a long cylinder and coil into a tight spiral. Transfer to a large sheet of parchment paper, and then loosely cover with plastic wrap.Make 11 more spirals in same manner.

Finish and cook flat breads
Roll out each spiral dough into a round approximately 6 inches in diameter. 

Heat a  large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot, then cook flat bread, turning once, until puffed and browned in spots, 1 ½ minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and cover with a kitchen towel. Roll out and cook 11 more flat breads, stacking them on plate. 

Enjoy warm with chana or any other curry.

Preparation time: 1 hour and 56 minutes
Yield: 12no
Verdict: Good similar to Indian paratha
Will you make it again: Yes I will

I am sending this Msemmen: Algerian Flat bread  to AWED: Africa hosted by PJ originally started by DK.

Swathi

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Comments

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  1. RAKS KITCHEN says

    New to me,love the idea,looks very tempting!

    Reply

  2. Faiza Ali says

    Interesting one...really looks like Indian Paratha.

    Reply

  3. SathyaSridhar says

    Swathi,,very nice bread dear delicious one for all time dear,,,

    Reply

  4. Nostalgia says

    Very nice indeed. It is quite interesting to know they make Indian bread in Algeria 🙂 Algerians no disrespect.. you may have found this one but I am glad that whole wheat parathas are so universal and good for us. Thanks for sharing Swathi.

    Reply

  5. Padhu says

    Interesting recipe!!

    Reply

  6. Meena says

    lovely one...so unique, swathi!

    Reply

  7. Madhura Manoj says

    Interesting recipe.Looks fabulous.

    Reply

  8. Life is beautiful!!! says

    Swathi a wonderful attempt and they look wholesome and yummy...will definitely try it 🙂

    Reply

  9. Aruna Manikandan says

    Sounds new to me dear...
    Thx. for sharing....

    Reply

  10. Pari says

    Hi Swathi, as u say it os so much like our layered paratha, looks so good.

    Reply

  11. Ms.Chitchat says

    Very beautifully illustrated, looks very tempting and resembles Kerala parattas minus the spicy oil. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  12. Abhilash Pillai says

    Never heard of this before. Looks nice.

    Reply

  13. Preety says

    different way to prepare it but it does look like indian paratha

    Reply

  14. Talita says

    It's new for me too. Looks yummy!

    Reply

  15. Preeti Kashyap says

    This is new to me. Bookmarked!

    Reply

  16. Usha says

    Swathi, this sounds interesting and delicious! Looking forward to trying it !

    Reply

  17. Priya says

    We get Msemmen here prepared with all purpose flour, making out the same flat bread with whole wheat flour sounds healthy and interesting..awesome flatbread..

    Reply

  18. Sook says

    Oh the flatbread looks fabulous! Looks like it's pretty simple to make! Will have to try it.

    Reply

  19. Neetz says

    intresting one :)..
    do collect ur awards from my blog 🙂

    Reply

  20. Sushma Mallya says

    Very interesting one swathi, loved the stepwise pics too...

    Reply

  21. Kalai says

    Wow Swathi! A nice recipe, I liked the spiced up part! What an interesting African bread!

    Reply

  22. Gulmohar says

    Interesting one..thanks for the pic description Swathi

    Reply

  23. Panchpakwan says

    Sounds intresting recipe Swathi..
    Nice presentation with step by step pics.

    Shared some awards with you do collect it from by blog.

    Reply

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