Cook's Illustrated

Making Flatbread at Home

Published January 1, 1999.

Is flatbread worth making at home? Yes--as long as you cook the dough in a stovetop skillet and reserve some dough for future meals.

The Problem

Most flatbreads feature a fairly short list of ingredients, but many require long preparation times or unusual equipment.

The Goal

A bread that was soft and tender yet chewy and with a slightly wheaty, mellow flavor. And it had to be easy enough for home cooks to make while dinner is cooking.

The Solution

Start with whole wheat flour passed through a fine sieve to remove the rougher bran flakes. Combine with yeast, warm water, olive oil, sugar, and yogurt in a food processor. Knead for 15 minutes and then allow to rise for just 30 to 45 minutes. Cook in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt before serving.

list of recipes
America's Test Kitchen

America’s Test Kitchen is a 2,500-square-foot kitchen located just outside of Boston. It is the home of Cook’s Country and Cook’s Illustrated magazines and is the workday destination for more than three dozen test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes until we understand how and why they work and arrive at the best version. We also test kitchen equipment and supermarket ingredients in search of brands that offer the best value and performance. You can watch us work by tuning in to America’s Test Kitchen (www.americastestkitchen.com) on public television.