Best Khubz Maghrebi Moroccan Bread Recipes

MOROCCAN BREAD RECIPE KHOBZ

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. As an alternative, dust it with semolina or lightly oil it.
• Put the flour, sugar,and salt in a large bowl. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yeast with some of the warm water.
• Dissolve the yeast in the water using your fingers, and add the remaining water and oil. Mix well until you obtain a homegenous dough.
• Transfer the dough to a kneading mat. Knead the dough until elastic and smooth, around 5-10 minutes. Make sure it's not sticky but soft by adding more water or flour as needed.
• Divide the dough into two buns and place them on the baking sheet ensuring there's enough space between them. Let them rest covered with a towel for 10-15 minutes.
• Pat the buns into flat, round loaves to 1/4" thickness. Let them rise once again covered with a towel for an hour. You can let them rise for longer in a colder place. The dough is ready when it springs back after pressing it lightly.
• Preheat the oven until it reaches 435°F or 225°C.
• Use a fork to poke a few holes in the dough or a knife to lightly score its surface before putting it in the preheated oven.
• Rotate the pan and bake until golden brown, or about 20 minutes. To check if your homemade Moroccan bread is baked properly, tap it and ensure it gives a hollow sound.
• Let your perfectly baked khobz cool before enjoying it.

TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN KHOBZ

Steps:

• In a small bowl add yeast, sugar and 1c warm water. Mix well and allow yeast to bubble. In a large bowl add flour and salt. After yeast/water mixture begins to bubble pour into bowl with flour. Begin combining flour and water. Have another cup of warm water to the side and add slowly to flour mixture. You may not use the entire cup. Continue combining flour and water until you can form a ball. At this point it should be a bit sticky. Pour vegetable oil into your hands and proceeds to work it into the dough. Again you may not use a full 1/4 cup. Most of the dough should come off of your hands and combine into the dough that will be elastic but no longer sticky. Knead for 8-10 minutes. You can do this by hand or in a mixer - if using a mixer reduce the time to approximately 5 minutes. Oil the ball and the bowl and cover. Allow to rest 15 minutes. Divide dough into 2-3 portions depending on the size of the bread you would like. Using the divided pieces form 2-3 smaller balls. Sprinkle flour on a board or counter-top and begin to push down the ball beginning in the center, similar to how you would form a pizza crust. Moroccan bread is traditionally in a circle shape however whatever shape you make it will not really matter! The dough should be about 1/4" thick and even on all sides. Wrap in a towel and continue for the remainder of the portions. Allow dough to rise about 45 minutes. Preheat the over to 400-425F. Once dough has risen prick with a from several times and place on a cookie sheet or baking stone into the oven. Cook until it begins to brown and makes a hallow sound when tapped - about 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

KHUBZ MAGHREBI (MOROCCAN BREAD)

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.

TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN KHOBZ BREAD FOR BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• 1. Add water, sugar, salt and oil to bread machine.
• 2. Add both flours to bread machine 1/2 cup at a time, leveling off each 1/2 cup with a knife before adding.
• 3. Sprinkle anise seed over the flour. Make a well in the flour taking care not to reach the water and add yeast to well.
• 4. Process on dough setting. When done, spray a large baking sheet with cooking oil. With floured hands, remove dough to baking sheet. Cut in half and form to balls. Press each balls down into circles approximately 1/2" thick.
• 5. Spray dough with cooking oil, cover with a damp towel and place in a warm spot away from direct sun for 30 minutes. The cooking oil spray will help keep the towel from sticking. Preheat oven to 375.
• 6. After dough has risen, prick all over with a fork, lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• 7. Place on the center shelf of your oven and shut the door. Wait a few minutes and then place a small cast iron pan with cold water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Bake another 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. Remove when nicely golden but not brown.

BASIC MOROCCAN WHITE BREAD (KHOBZ)

Steps:

• Prepare two baking sheets by lightly oiling them or by dusting the pans with a little cornmeal or semolina.
• Mix the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Make a large well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yeast.
• Add the oil and the water to the well, stirring with your fingers to dissolve the yeast first, and then stirring the entire contents of the bowl to incorporate the water into the flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and begin kneading the dough, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. If necessary, add flour or water in very small amounts to make the dough soft and pliable, but not sticky. Continue kneading for 10 minutes by hand (or 5 minutes by machine), or until the dough is very smooth and elastic.
• Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a smooth circular mound. (If you prefer, you can divide the dough into four to six smaller loaves instead.) Place the dough onto the prepared pans, cover with a towel and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• After the dough has rested, use the palm of your hand to flatten the dough into circles about 1/4-inch thick. Cover with a towel and let rise about 1 hour (longer in a cold room), or until the dough springs back when pressed lightly with a finger.
• Heat an oven to 435 F/225°C.
• Create steam vents by scoring the top of the bread with a very sharp knife or by poking the dough with a fork in several places. Bake the bread for about 20 minutes-rotating the pans about halfway through the baking cycle-or until the loaves are nicely colored and sound hollow when tapped. Transfer the bread to a rack or towel-lined basket to cool.