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Gurasa

Thick Sudanese wheat pancake-bread, cooked in a pan for stews

Gurasa is a thick, soft, round wheat bread from Sudan, especially the north and west (Darfur and Kordofan), cooked in a covered pan rather than an oven. It is torn and eaten with mullah, ful or salata aswad, and for breakfast with sugar and a little oil or butter. The dough is a loose, yeasted batter, closer to a giant crumpet than a flatbread. Chef's tip: cook it covered over a low heat; a hot open pan burns the base before the thick centre cooks.
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Whisk 14 oz plain flour, ⅛ oz instant yeast, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and 1 ¾ cups warm water into a thick, smooth batter that drops slowly from the spoon. Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour until bubbly and doubled.

    60 min
  2. Step 2: Heat a 24 cm non-stick frying pan over a low-medium heat and brush with some of 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Pour in half the batter and spread it to about 1.5 cm thick.

    2 min
  3. Step 3: Cover with a lid and cook for 10–12 minutes until the top is set and full of holes and the base is golden. Common mistake: lifting the lid early — the steam is what cooks the top.

    12 min
  4. Step 4: Turn over and cook for 2–3 minutes until lightly spotted. Repeat with the rest of the batter and 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Serve warm, torn into pieces.

    14 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
390 kcal
Protein
11 g
Carbs
76 g
Fat
7 g
Fibre
3 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does gurasa take?
About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 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 vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of plain flour?
Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
What can I use instead of sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

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