Thursday 28 July 2011

Fresh From The Oven 7 - July 2011 - Posh Toasties.


What a brilliant challenge this month - really tasty Italian flatbread sandwiches - Piadina - with any filling of our choice.  Thanks to Alex of Dear Love Blog for this challenge.  She had spent time researching and trying to recreate a recipe that she had loved when she tried it in Milan when she was 15.  Well I'm so glad she did as this lovely little toastie is going to be a regular lunch around here.  The fillings ideas are endless so we can vary it and never get bored.  



This time, I made two fillings.  The first was spinach and nutmeg with Taleggio cheese and the second was roasted peppers with mozzarella.  I loved them both.  My next one is going to be one of Alex's ideas - gorgonzola, pear, rocket and walnuts.   Oh yum.  But really you can't go wrong with any cheesy filling so I'll just play about with whatever I fancy or whatever is in the fridge.



This recipe is made with olive oil instead of lard and it tasted perfect to me but you can just replace the oil with lard if you fancy.


My 3 year old took the above photo.  He is obviously going to be a food blogger!

Recipe - Piadina.
(Makes 8 flatbreads which will serve 4 people easily and probably 6 for lunch with a salad.)

Ingredients - 
500g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp finely ground sea salt
100ml olive oil (or 100g lard)
200ml warm water.

Method - 
1. Place the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and olive oil in a large bowl.  Gradually add the water, stirring with loose fingers until the mix comes together to form a soft dough.  Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough becomes smooth and shiny, about 5-10 mins. (Okay, okay, I used my Kenwood Chef to do all of this for me!).  Divide into 8 equal balls, loosely cover with lightly oiled cling film and allow to rest for 30 mins.
2. Heat a non-stick cast iron skillet over a high heat for 5 mins.  (I just used my BBQ because it was a nice evening.)  On a well floured surface, flatten each ball and roll out into a disc 2-3 mm thick. Prick all over with a fork.  Place a disc of dough flat in the centre of the pan and press down gently.  Cook for 2 mins or until the dough is crisp and brown and brown spots begin to appear, then flip and repeat on the other side.  Cook the piadina one at a time until all the dough is used.  Cover with a clean tea towel to prevent them drying out while you prepare your filling.
3. Place one piadina on the bottom, cover evenly with filling and top with another.  If you like your fillings cold, cut into wedges and serve.  Altenatively heat through in the ven or sandwich press and serve hot. (I cokked four pieces of dough on the BBQ then with the others, I cooked one side, flipped over, added my filling and one of the cooked piadinas thereby letting the filling warm through while the bottom of the piadina was cooking).


14 comments:

  1. I love the fillings you've chosen for yours - all the cheese just looks so tempting.

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  2. These look amazing!! I just made Pitta Pizzas for lunch and thought I was so smart...but these are incredible!!!!!!! :)

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  3. Thank you so much for taking part in this months challenge. They look great & I'm glad the boys liked them to.

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  4. Oh Yum! Love the melted gooey cheese in the middle.

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  5. These look absolutely perfect - is it possible to post me some for my lunch next week?!

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  6. Yum! I'm always amazed at what one can do with a simple sandwich. And I'm glad I looks at this just before lunch!

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  7. Thank you for taking part this month. These look and sound delicious. I love the photo taken by your son!

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  8. These look AMAZING! Thought of you last night - we had what my Husband calls 'Mystery Recipe Dinner' - inspired by your Random Recipes date night. It's such a good idea!

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  9. Love the pic from the height perspective of your three year old! The fillings looks gorgeous.

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  10. Ooh they sound so good and they look even better. Love the fillings you've chosen too. Am sorely tempted to go and make a batch of Piedina right now.

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  11. Corina - you can't beat oozy cheese!

    P&R - yip - cheese is WONDERFUL!

    Victoria - yes, how smug would I feel if I brought these to work for lunch??

    Alex - lovely recipe that I will use over and over. All my fillings will have oozy cheese!

    Michael - have I mentioned that I love oozy cheese?

    Kate - just make them - they are quick and easy and yum - much better fresh than soggy and squashed through the post box - hee hee.

    Valerie - yes, lovely to get the inspiration from Alex - lovely variation on a sandwich.

    Purelyfood - I do get some good photos after he has been playing with the camera - sometimes!

    Lucy - so glad we have inspired the mystery recipe dinners - it's such fun to do stuff like this together isn't it?

    Sally - thanks - a look through his photos is always interesting!

    Choclette - They are quick to make - be nice to rustle up when craving something savoury and gooey.

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  12. I made these and they were wonderful! They made for a perfect dinner when I had nothing planned. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Wow, they look fabulous, and I love the shots of the breads with your delicious generous fillings!

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