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Rieska
Potato and barley flatbread
Finnish quick potato and barley flatbread
Ten minutes in a very hot oven is all rieska needs, which is why Finnish cooks in Lapland and Ostrobothnia have long baked it on the spot whenever there were cold boiled potatoes in the larder. This version, perunarieska, is unleavened: mashed potato bound with barley flour, rolled thin and baked until speckled brown. It is soft and slightly chewy, with an earthy barley flavour, and is best eaten straight from the oven with plenty of butter melting into it, perhaps with cheese and cucumber or a bowl of soup. Barley gives it the traditional taste but means it is not gluten free. Using warm potatoes is the common mistake; they soak up far more flour and the rieska turns tough. Chef's tip: prick the rounds all over with a fork before baking so they stay flat, then stack them under a cloth as they come out to keep them soft.
- Total time
- 26 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rieska
- 14 oz floury potatoesboiled, peeled and cold
- 4 ½ oz barley flourplus extra for rolling
- ¾ tsp salt
To serve
- 1 ⅜ oz buttersoftened
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 475°F (450°F fan) with a large baking tray inside.
Step 2: Press 14 oz floury potatoes through a ricer or mash until completely smooth.
Step 3: Work in 4 ½ oz barley flour and ¾ tsp salt with your hands until you have a soft dough that no longer sticks; add a spoonful more flour only if needed.
Step 4: Divide into 4 and roll each on a well-floured sheet of baking paper into a 20 cm round about 5 mm thick. Prick all over with a fork.
Step 5: Slide two rounds on their paper onto the hot tray and bake for 6–7 minutes, until dry and speckled golden-brown on top. Repeat with the other two.
14 minStep 6: Spread at once with 1 ⅜ oz butter and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 37 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does rieska take?
- About 26 minutes in total: 12 minutes to prepare and 14 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of floury potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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