Description
Msmen is a traditional Moroccan flatbread made with layers of super thin dough, butter, and semolina. Perfect for serving with sweet and savory toppings, it’s a buttery blank canvas that’s commonly enjoyed for breakfast with honey and butter.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Dough:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup fine semolina flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
For Assembly:
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup semolina
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl combine both flours, salt, sugar, and warm water. Knead thoroughly on a clean surface until a stretchy dough forms that is no longer sticky. Transfer to an oil coated bowl and cover with a clean towel to rest for 30 minutes.
- Work the dough: Once the dough has rested, knead for a couple minutes to release any air bubbles, then divide into 16 equal sized balls (about 56g each*). Arrange the balls on an oiled cutting board or tray, cover with a clean towel and let rest for another 30 minutes.
- Shape the msmen: Using oil to coat your hands and your work surface, take a ball of dough and flatten out into a super thin layer. Continue to stretch and flatten the dough until it’s thin enough to see the counter through it. Sprinkle with melted butter and semolina mixed. Fold two opposite ends of the dough into the center, sprinkling with butter and semolina, then do the same with the other two opposite ends, creating a square shape sprinkling again with butter and semolina.
- Continue shaping the msmen: Take another dough ball and flatten out as you did with the first one. Sprinkle with butter and semolina. Set the square shaped dough you formed in step 3 and arrange in the center of the flattened dough. Fold in two opposite ends over the square in the center, then sprinkle with butter and semolina. Fold in the other two opposite ends and sprinkle again. Flatten the entire square to remove any air bubbles.
- Finish prepping the dough: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all of the dough is formed.
- Toast the msmen: Heat an oiled skillet over medium heat before toasting the msmen on each side until the lightly puff up and are golden brown all around, flipping regularly. Enjoy with honey and butter or olive oil.
Notes
If desired: Add a few pieces of cheese to the center of the dough before folding for a cheese stuffed msmen.
*No need to weigh out the balls – it’s only if you want to be a perfectionist in the size of the msmen 🙂