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    Cooking Gorgeous » All Recipes » Side Dishes

    Taboon - Palestinian Flatbread

    Published: Feb 8, 2023 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Taboon is a leavened Palestinian Flatbread baked in a clay oven called Taboon (or tannur) and traditionally served with Musakhan.

    This soft and chewy flatbread is also perfect for making wraps, dipping into soups, or serving with dips and mezze.

    freshly baked taboon breads stacked together
    Jump to:
    • What is Taboon Bread?
    • Ingredients and Substitutes
    • How to Make Taboon - Palestinian Flatbread?
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • How to Serve Taboon Bread?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Taboon - Palestinian Flatbread

    Taboon Bread is very simple yet incredibly delicious. It is traditionally cooked in a clay oven over rocks heated by a fire.

    This Palestinian flatbread is soft with a slight crunch and chewiness and is very delicious especially when dipped in olive oil and Za'atar.

    We love freshly baked homemade bread recipes, from Homemade Sandwich Bread to Homemade Wheat Tortilla Bread, Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread, and Banana Bread.

    And there is nothing more satisfying than the aroma of freshly made Taboon Bread, totally addictive!

    What is Taboon Bread?

    Taboon Bread is a Levantine flatbread traditionally baked in a clay oven called Taboon.

    It is similar to Pita bread, or tandoor bread such as Roghni Naan or Middle Eastern Lavash Bread.

    Also, it is the traditional bread to serve with delicious Sumac Chicken - Musakhan.

    taboon bread is traditionally served with musakhan

    Taboon is also the name of a type of dome-shaped clay oven, dating back to biblical times.

    They can be either an underground oven or an above ground.

    These communal ovens were once used by women in Palestinian villages to bake flatbreads called "Taboon Bread".

    As it is almost impossible to have these ancient ovens at home, we will have to use our domestic oven and a baking tray filled with pebbles from our backyard.

    The pebbles are necessary in order to create these indentations and bumps that are the hallmark of taboon bread.

    However, you can skip them and create these dimples by pressing the dough with your fingertips.

    Ingredients and Substitutes

    Labelled picture of ingredients for taboon bread
    • Flour - I use %60 white strong bread flour and %40 wholemeal strong bread flour. Strong bread flour has a higher protein content than “regular” flour and is perfect for a chewier crust. However, you can replace it with plain (all-purpose flour) if you want and still have excellent results.
    • Yeast - This recipe calls for fast-action dry yeast. You can substitute it with fresh yeast. The rising times might vary depending on the type of yeast you are using. 
    • Olive oil - It adds flavor and a soft texture to the dough.
    • Salt - It regulates the yeast and adds flavor, you won't have tasty bread without salt.
    • Water - It feeds the yeast and gives the moisture the bread needs. Make sure the temperature of the water is about 40° C (105° F) for best results.

    How to Make Taboon - Palestinian Flatbread?

    You might find daunting the idea of making your own bread at home.

    The good thing is that Taboon Bread is straightforward to make when you follow a few simple steps:

    Making the Dough

    Add the water, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl, and stir. 

    water, yeast and sugar are mixed in a bowl

    Leave it for 10 minutes until it forms bubbles then add the salt, olive oil, and flour. 

    Mix until forming a soft and sticky dough.

    Depending on the type of flour or the humidity of the room, you might need less flour than the recipe calls for. 

    the flour is added to the yeast and water to form a sticky dough

    Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it until smooth but slightly sticking to your hands.

    Add a little bit of extra flour if it's too sticky.

    Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled its size.

    the dough for taboon bread has doubled the size

    Shaping the Taboon Bread

    Gather some pebbles, and wash them thoroughly with water and dish soap. 

    Dry them using a cloth and place them on a baking dish. 

    pebbles are placed on a baking tray

    Preheat the oven to 220° C (430° F). 

    While the oven is heating, place the baking dish/tray with pebbles in the oven.

    If not using pebbles, line the baking dish with silicon paper to avoid the dough sticking.

    Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, sprinkle some flour on top of the dough balls, and cover with a clean kitchen cloth.

    the dough is divided into 6 equal balls

    Leave them to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface.

    6 dough balls are rested for 15 minutes before shaping

    Working with one piece of dough at a time, set the dough on a floured work surface.

    Dust the dough ball with more flour, then flatten and stretch it gently with your hands until you have a roughly 20 cm (8") Ø circle. 

    a dough ball is stretched to form a 20 cm (8") circle

    Baking

    When the pebbles are really hot, carefully transfer the dough circle directly over the pebbles. Carefully stretch it out to form a more circular shape if necessary.

    If not using pebbles, simply place the dough on a heated baking paper lined tray and use your fingers to make dimples all over the bread.

    Bake the bread until golden, for about 5 minutes. Flip it using oven mitts and bake for another 2 minutes.

    Remove the Taboon bread from the oven and place it on a plate lined with a clean kitchen cloth. 

    Cover the flatbread to keep warm and proceed to stretch another dough ball while the pebbles are reheating.

    freshly baked taboon bread

    Repeat the process until all the dough balls are baked.

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • The rising times might vary depending on the type of yeast you are using and the temperature of the room. 
    • Make sure the temperature of the water is about 40° C (105° F) for best results.
    • Leave the dough balls to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface. This step is necessary to be able to stretch and shape the dough balls much easier.
    • Wrap the baked taboon bread in clean kitchen cloths as soon as they come out of the oven. That would keep them warm and also help to soften them while you are baking the rest.

    How to Serve Taboon Bread?

    There are many ways to enjoy these delicious Palestinian flatbreads.

    You can serve them with this delicious citrusy Palestinian Sumac Chicken dish Musakhan.

    taboon bread is traditionally served with musakhan

    You can make wraps or gyros with Shish Tawook (Turkish Chicken Kebab), Greek Cucumber Salad, and Mediterranean Hummus Dip.

    Or serve them with delicious and healthy Mediterranean dips & mezes such as Ezme Salad (Acili Ezme), Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze), and Tirokafteri (Spicy Whipped Feta Dip.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to store the leftovers?

    You can keep these delicious flatbreads at room temperature for up to 2 days when tightly wrapped with a cling film.

    Can you freeze Taboon bread?

    Although it is best to eat these lovely flatbreads freshly made, you can wrap them individually with a cling film and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply reheat them in the hot oven without thawing.

    Is Taboon bread vegan?

    Yes, this Palestinian Taboon flatbread recipe is vegan although there are some recipes/versions using dairy products or honey.

    Related Recipes

    For more scrumptious flatbread recipes why not try:

    • Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread)
    • Garlic Naan - Indian Flatbread
    • Black Pepper Sourdough Focaccia
    • Homemade Wheat Tortilla Bread

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this traditional Palestinian Flatbread "Taboon" as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

    Taboon - Palestinian Flatbread

    Ayla Clulee
    Taboon is a leavened Palestinian Flatbread baked in a clay oven called Taboon (or tannur) and traditionally served with Musakhan.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Servings 6 pieces
    Calories 332 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Dough cutter
    • 1 oven mitts

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 300 g strong white flour
    • 200 g strong wholemeal flour
    • 7 g fast action dried yeast
    • 10 g salt
    • 320 ml water
    • 20 ml olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon sugar

    Instructions
     

    Making the Dough

    • Add the water, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl, and stir.
    • Leave it for 10 minutes until it forms bubbles then add the salt, olive oil, and flour.
    • Mix until forming a soft and sticky dough. Depending on the type of flour or the humidity of the room, you might need less flour than the recipe calls for.
    • Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it until smooth but slightly sticking to your hands. Add a little bit of extra flour if it's too sticky.
    • Cover the dough with a clean kitchen cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled the size.

    Shaping the Taboon Bread

    • Gather some pebbles, and wash them thoroughly with water and dish soap. Dry them using a cloth and place them on a baking dish.
    • Preheat the oven to 220° C (430° F).
    • While the oven is heating, place the baking dish/tray with pebbles in oven. If not using pebbles, line the baking dish with silicon paper to avoid the dough sticking.
    • Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, sprinkle some flour on top of the dough balls and cover with a clean kitchen cloth. 
    • Leave them to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
    • Working with one piece of dough at a time, set dough on a floured work surface.
    • Dust the dough ball with more flour, then flatten and stretch it gently with your hands until you have a roughly 20 cm (8") Ø circle. 

    Baking the Taboon Bread

    • When the pebbles are really hot, carefully transfer dough circle directly over the pebbles. Carefully stretch it out to form a more circular shape if necessary.
    • If not using pebbles, simply place the dough on a heated baking paper lined tray and use your fingers to make dimples all over the bread .
    • Bake the bread until golden, for about 5 minutes. Flip it using oven mitts and bake for another 2 minutes.
    • Remove the Taboon bread from the oven and place it on a plate lined with clean kitchen cloth.
    • Cover the flatbread with another clean cloth to keep warm and proceed to stretch another dough ball while the pebbles are reheating.
    • Repeat the process until all the dough balls are baked.

    Video

    Notes

    • The rising times might vary depending on the type of yeast you are using and the temperature of the room. 
    • Make sure the temperature of the water is about 40° C (105° F) for best results.
    • Leave the dough balls to rest for another 15 minutes on a lightly floured surface. This step is necessary to be able to stretch and shape the dough balls much easier.
    • Wrap the baked taboon bread in clean kitchen cloths as soon as they come out of the oven. That would keep them warm and also help to soften them while you are baking the rest.
    • You can keep these delicious flatbreads at room temperature for up to 2 days when tightly wrapped with a cling film.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 9gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 651mgPotassium: 189mgFiber: 6gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      February 12, 2023 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious and really easy. I can’t wait to try them!

      Reply

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious recipes and culinary inspiration await you! I'm Ayla, a passionate and professional chef based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here. The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy. To me, food is more than ingredients and nutrition; it is a language of love, a way of expressing compassion.

    More about me →

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