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Khubz rakhal
Khubz rakhal (خبز رخال): Omani paper-thin griddle bread
Khubz rakhal, sometimes called khubz Omani, is the huge, crackly-thin bread Omani women make in village kitchens from Nizwa to Sur by smearing a very wet dough across a hot domed griddle with the palm of the hand. It comes off in a lacy, papery sheet that is crisp at the edges and soft where it was thickest, and it is eaten for breakfast with honey, ghee or a sweet tea, or folded around Omani curries. At home a large non-stick pan and the back of a spoon do the job. Spreading the batter onto a pan that isn't hot enough is the usual mistake; it then soaks up the heat slowly and sticks. Chef's tip: wipe the pan with a damp cloth between breads to cool the surface for a second, which helps the next sheet spread thinly without tearing.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ¾ cups waterroom temperature
- 4 tbsp date syrup (optional)to serve; honey is traditional too
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk 10 ½ oz plain flour and ½ tsp salt with 1 ¾ cups water into a smooth, runny batter, a little thinner than pancake batter. Beat it with your hand or a whisk for 3–4 minutes so it turns stretchy.
5 minStep 2: Cover and rest for 20 minutes; the gluten relaxes and the batter will spread thinner.
20 minStep 3: Heat a large non-stick frying pan or flat griddle over a medium-high heat until a drop of water dances and evaporates in seconds.
Step 4: Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter into the centre and immediately spread it out with the back of a large spoon in quick circles to a very thin sheet, as wide as the pan. Thin patches and small holes are fine.
1 minStep 5: Cook for 1–2 minutes, without turning, until the sheet dries, turns pale gold at the edges and peels away from the pan by itself. Lift it off and stack on a plate.
18 minStep 6: Wipe the pan quickly with a damp folded cloth and repeat with the rest of the batter. Serve the breads warm and crisp, folded, with 4 tbsp date syrup drizzled over or with a curry.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 57 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khubz rakhal take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 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.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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