This recipe is for basic Moroccan white bread, often referred to as force, the same French word used by many Moroccans for strong white flour. It also is called khobz (or kessra or aghroum) and is characterized by a round, flat shape and a slightly coarse texture.
Outside Morocco, you can use all-purpose flour. Vary this recipe by substituting other flours for some of the white, or try this Moroccan whole-wheat bread recipe.
Khobz is used primarily to scoop up tagines and other foods but it also is excellent as sandwich bread. Smaller loaves can be cut in half and then stuffed; larger loaves can be cut into wedges which can then be gently pried open and stuffed.
Ingredients
4 cups flour, high-gluten or bread flour preferred
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups warm water
Ingredients for Moroccan white bread
Prepare 2 baking sheets by lightly oiling them or by dusting the pans with a little cornmeal or semolina.
Prepare baking sheets
Mix the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Make a large well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yeast.
Mix flour, salt and sugar
Add the oil and the water to the well, stirring with your fingers to dissolve the yeast first, and then stirring the entire contents of the bowl to incorporate the water into the flour.
Add oil and water
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and begin kneading the dough, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. If necessary, add flour or water in very small amounts to make the dough soft and pliable, but not sticky. Continue kneading for 10 minutes by hand (or 5 minutes by machine), or until the dough is very smooth and elastic.
Turn dough
Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a smooth circular mound. (If you prefer, you can divide the dough into 4 to 6 smaller loaves instead.) Place the dough onto the prepared pans, cover with a towel and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
Divide dough
After the dough has rested, use the palm of your hand to flatten the dough into circles about 1/4-inch thick. Cover with a towel and let rise about 1 hour (longer in a cold room), or until the dough springs back when pressed lightly with a finger.
Flatten dough
Pre-heat oven to 435 F / 225 C.
Create steam vents by scoring the top of the bread with a very sharp knife or by poking the dough with a fork in several places.
Score dough
Bake the bread for about 20 minutes—rotating the pans about halfway through the baking pans—or until the loaves are nicely colored and sound hollow when tapped. Transfer the bread to a rack or towel-lined basket to cool.
