Iraqi Laffa Bread
Enjoy making this traditional, incredibly soft and pliable Iraqi flatbread right in your home kitchen with just a few basic ingredients.
Ingredients
- •3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
- •1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- •1 teaspoon sugar
- •1 teaspoon salt
- •1 cup lukewarm water (240ml)
- •2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water, letting it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- 2
Add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough begins to form.
- 3
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 to 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- 4
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- 5
Punch down the dough and divide it into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a smooth ball. Cover and let them rest for 10 minutes.
- 6
Preheat your oven to its highest setting (around 500°F or 260°C) with a heavy baking sheet or pizza stone placed inside.
- 7
On a lightly floured surface, roll out each dough ball into a very thin, large oval or round disc.
- 8
Carefully transfer each rolled-out dough onto the hot baking sheet or stone in the oven.
- 9
Bake for 3 to 4 minutes until the bread puffs up with golden brown spots and is cooked through.
- 10
Remove the laffa from the oven and immediately stack them under a clean kitchen towel to keep them soft and pliable.
💡 Chef tips
- For an authentic smoky flavor, you can cook the rolled-out dough on an inverted hot saj or a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat instead of the oven.
- Store leftover laffa in an airtight plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze them for up to a month.
- Reheat frozen laffa briefly in a hot dry skillet for 30 seconds on each side to restore their fresh-baked softness.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished laffa bread is large, beautifully charred in spots, soft and bendable with an inviting warm aroma, perfect for wrapping around your favorite fillings.