Zradak – Happy Tunisian Purim Flat Bread

Purim is one of the happiest holidays of all Jewish holiday. In fact, one of the holiday’s Mitzvahs (commands) is to be happy and display happiness not just on the actual holiday, but rather for the whole month prior to and after the holiday – the month of “Adar”. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like a big request or a command that is hard to follow: Be Happy. On one hand, it sounds so simple to do; on the other hand, being happy can become a challenging task at times… Can you imagine? We are asked to be happy, regardless of our status or what’s going on in our lives… There is something almost genius in this concept of commanding yourself to be happy, especially at times when being happy seems like an impossible task. Just think of it…

Meanwhile, I can tell you about another Purim Mitzvah (command) – On Purim we are asked to have a holiday feast. Food…Happiness… I have a feeling one command can help the other… 🙂 A Purim feast is one of the major customs of Purim and the Tunisian traditional Purim feast includes some amazing traditional dishes such as Maa’kuda, Ful Bel Camun, meat on the grill and chicken dishes. Two dishes on the Purim feast table are unique to the holiday: B’sal U’Maa’dnus, which is a super fresh salad and Zradak, which is special Purim bread. “Zradak” literally means “flat” – making this unique bread is a lot of fun! After flattening it, you get to create design on the top…

Generally, I believe that bread has the power to add happiness to our lives… and Zradak adds extra happiness 🙂

You will need:

4 cups Flour

1½ tsp. Yeast

1 tsp. Sugar

1¼ (¼ + 1) cup of Warm Water

1½ tsp. Baking Powder

½ cup Olive Oil

1 tsp. Salt

* Olive Oil Spray

Let’s get to work!

Start by sifting the flour into a large bowl.

Next and just like we did in many other “yeasty” occasions, 🙂 let’s create a little crater in the middle and place the dry yeast and sugar in it. Add ¼ cup of warm water on top of the yeast and sugar and cover it using the flour around the bowl. Smooth the top with the back of the spoon and allow the yeast mixture to do its thing for about 10-15 minutes.

You will notice the flour starts to crack as the yeast mixture rises and bubbles out of the cracks… This is so cool!

While you wait for the yeast to make its appearance, add the baking powder to the flour.

When the yeast bubbled out add the rest of the warm water (about one cup) and start kneading the dough.

…it is very sticky at first, but don’t worry… Add salt and keep kneading … Oil helps us overcome the stickiness.

Once the dough starts to come together, add the olive oil and continue kneading…

Have you had your daily workout yet? Let’s go!

We need about 8 minutes of good kneading.

Form the dough into a ball and cover the bowl with some plastic wrap. The dough needs about 20 minutes of rest.

Divide the dough into four equal pieces and form each one into a ball. We prepare four round traditional flat breads.

Flatten one ball at a time, using a rolling pin.

The circles’ thickness is about ¾-1 inch thick.

Place gently on a baking sheet with sprayed parchment paper. Allow the flat breads rest for 10-15 minutes.

Using a fork or a knife, create lines and any kind of design you like on the surface of the flat breads.

After you create the design on the top, spray lightly each top with olive oil spray.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 25 minutes or until the top of the flat bread is golden brown.

The Zradak is ready!

Serve while fresh and warm, along with B’sal U’Maa’dnus (Purim traditional fresh salad). Zradak is also great served with homemade Hummus or Labneh, tapenade or any other salad or spread…

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Quick Recipe:

Zradak- Purim Flat Bread

Place the Flour in a large bowl and create a crater in the middle.

Combine Dry Yeast, Sugar and ¼ cup of Warm Water in the crater.

Cover with the Flour and allow 15 minutes for the Yeast to get bubbly and active.

Add the rest of the Warm Water and start kneading the dough.

Add Salt and continue kneading.

When the dough comes together add Olive Oil and continue kneading.

Knead for 8-10 minutes.

Form a ball and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes.

Divide dough into four portions and form into balls.

Flatten each dough ball using a rolling pin and create circles of ¾-1 inch thick.

Place on a baking sheet and allow 15 minutes rest.

Using a fork create designs on the surface of each flat bread.

Lightly spray each top with olive oil spray.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for about 25 minute