World Flavors Cookbook

Lagana

Clean Monday's flatbread — an unleavened sesame-topped bread baked only on Kathari Deftera, the first day of Lent.

Cuisine: Greece

Ingredients

• 500g flour
• 300ml warm water
• 7g dried yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Sesame seeds for topping
• 1 tbsp tahini (traditional)

Instructions

1. Mix flour, yeast, salt, and olive oil. Add water gradually.
2. Knead 8 minutes. Rest 1 hour.
3. Stretch dough into a wide, flat oval — it should be thin (1-2cm).
4. Transfer to an oiled baking sheet.
5. Dimple generously with fingers.
6. Brush with water and scatter sesame seeds thickly.
7. Rest 20 minutes.
8. Bake at 220C for 18-20 minutes until pale golden.