Lagana (Clean Monday Flatbread)

Name: Lagana (Clean Monday Flatbread)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 500 g strong white bread flour; 7 g fast-action dried yeast (1 sachet); 1 tbsp Sugar; 1½ tsp Salt; 300 ml lukewarm water; 3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing; 4 tbsp Sesame seeds

A long, dimpled sesame flatbread, crisp outside and soft within, baked once a year for Clean Monday but good every day.

Greek · Breads · prep 20 min · cook 25 min · waiting 1 h 30 min · serves 8 · Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Pescatarian

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Ingredients

500 g strong white bread flour
7 g fast-action dried yeast (1 sachet)
1 tbsp Sugar
1½ tsp Salt
300 ml lukewarm water
3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
4 tbsp Sesame seeds

Method

Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, then add the water and oil and bring together. Knead for 10 min, until smooth and elastic.
Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled.
Divide the dough in two and stretch each piece into a long oval about 1.5 cm thick on a lined baking tray. Cover and leave to rise again for 30 min.
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan, 400°F). Brush the dough with water or oil, then press your fingertips firmly all over it to make deep dimples. Scatter thickly with sesame seeds.
Bake for 20–25 min, until golden and the bread sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a rack before tearing.

Tips

Lagana is the Lenten bread for Clean Monday, eaten with taramasalata, olives, fava and halva.
Contains sesame. A spoonful of tahini in the dough, as some bakers do, makes it softer and nuttier.

Sources

Written in our own words after cross-checking these recipes:

My Greek Dish Diane Kochilas OliveTomato

Open Lagana (Clean Monday Flatbread) in Nouns Cooking