Pane Carasau Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: thirschfeld

December15,2010

4.5

4 Ratings

  • Makes 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

This is Sardinian flatbread or as it is translated "sheet music" bread. It is really a lot like a cracker although I know it looks much like a tortilla. It is stiff and crackly and in the hands of the Sardinians it is multipurpose. It is simple to make and my version requires no yeast. The most difficult part of the process is rolling it out but after one or two you'll get the hang of it. BTW they are usually baked twice. Meaning this is the first time and when you are ready to eat them you bake them again usually brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary. —thirschfeld

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cupsunbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cupssemolina flour, fine grind
  • 1 teaspoonbaking powder
  • 1 teaspoonsea salt
  • 1 1/2 cupswarm water
Directions
  1. Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of mixer and mix until it comes together and becomes elastic.
  2. Remove the dough from the bowl and kneed it a few times. Set it on the counter and cover it with the mixing bowl and let it rest for 20 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and place a baking stone on the rack. If you don't have a stone you can use several parchment lined sheet tray. After the dough has rested divide the dough into 7 pieces and roll them under the palm of your hand until the becomes smooth balls of dough.
  4. Sprinkle the counter lightly with flour and then dip one of the balls of dough into the flour and shake off the excess.
  5. Using the palm of you hand flatten the dough out and then start rolling it out. Turn it 180 degrees between each roll so it becomes a long oval. Roll it as thin as you can. Using a fork dock the dough.
  6. Gently lift the dough and place it onto the stone and bake it for 5 minutes flipping it after 2 1/2 minutes. While it is baking roll out the next flatbread. Remove from the oven and continue baking the remaining 5 flatbreads.

Tags:

  • Bread
  • American
  • Grains
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Make Ahead
  • Appetizer
  • Snack
  • Side

Popular on Food52

13 Reviews

Wanona W. April 9, 2023

Actually the bread is cooked once until it billows up. Then split into two halves. Then baked again until it is crispy like a cracker. Then it will last a year!

TypesOfItalianBread June 6, 2012

A fantastic yet simple recipe. I have written an article on Pane Carasau and have linked your website for a recipe.

Thanks

www.typesofitalianbread.com

thirschfeld December 17, 2010

If anyone is interest her is a video from Sardinia and how they make this bread. I wish I had a wood fired oven... http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/index.php?xsl=626&id=190962

thirschfeld December 17, 2010

makes me think I need to rethink my recipe. The first bread I cooked puffed up like the bread in the video but it did not fall upon removal from the oven. I docked to dough so it would stay flat and it did but I couldn't separate it into thinner layers.

hardlikearmour December 16, 2010

Could you do the second "baking" on the grill instead?

thirschfeld December 16, 2010

I have never tried it. I am sure you could I just don't know if you would get lots of grill marks. Let me know how it goes if you do.

hardlikearmour December 16, 2010

I'll give it a try tonight. I'm making butter chicken, and think this would be a good compliment. I'll report back later.

hardlikearmour December 17, 2010

So over all the grill worked well. Burned the 1st 2 I put on it, too much multitasking is always bad. The rest cooked up nicely, and were spotted with char marks, kinda like naan from the tandoor oven. Got nice and crisp.

Sagegreen December 16, 2010

Love those bubbles. This is one I will enjoy trying, too! Rosemary and olive oil finishes, as well. So glad I brought in my rosemary plant for the winter.

thirschfeld December 16, 2010

thanks Sagegreen, I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we do.

thirschfeld December 15, 2010

I am guessing anything is good with the potted pig, if it is the same potted pig recipe I saw here on f52

mrslarkin December 15, 2010

yup, that's the one.

mrslarkin December 15, 2010

Oh, I love crunchy. Nice, thirschfeld. This would go really nice with the Potted Pig I just had for dinner.

Pane Carasau Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is Sardinian pane carasau? ›

Pane carasau (Sardinian: [ˈpanɛ ɣaɾaˈzau]; Italian: [ˈpaːne karaˈzau]; 'toasted bread' in Sardinian, from the past participle of the Sardinian verb carasare, which means 'to toast', referring to the crust) is a traditional flatbread from Sardinia.

How do you eat pane carasau? ›

The bread can be eaten either dry or wet with water, wine, broth or a variety of sauces. It's perfect for brunch or as a nibble. We call it the Sardinian cracker for its crispy thin texture, that works really well on its own or paired with cheese and salami.

Why is pane carasau a favorite food of shepherds? ›

This Italian bread variation has been traced all the way back to before 1000 BC and was customarily made by women who prepared it for their men working as shepherds in the field as the bread was able to be stored for a long period of time without losing its flavor and texture.

What is the famous crisp Sardinian bread called? ›

One of the most distinctive Sardinian foods, pane carasau is a crisp, thin bread that is shaped in rounds. Owing to its appearance and crackling sound, it is also called sheet music bread (carta de musica) in other parts of Italy.

What is the meaning of pane carasau? ›

With its roots in the verb carasare and meaning “toasted bread” in the Sardinian dialect, pane carasau is a traditional bread from the south of Italy, golden in colour and crisp to the touch.

What is the most famous sardinian food? ›

1. Su Porcheddu. Among the most famous meat dishes on the island, and a real countryside tradition, Su Porcheddu is better known as roast suckling pig, usually cooked on a spit for up to five hours. The result is a delicious and crispy piece of meat, often served at special occasions such as weddings.

What is one of the most beloved breads in Italy? ›

Focaccia. This flatbread is one of the most iconic Italian breads. It's baked flat on a sheet pan, and it gets its rich flavor from the addition of olive oil. Simple focaccia tastes great as-is for a snack, and it's an excellent bread to serve with soup.

Where did the Carasau bread come from? ›

History/Origin

Carasau breads are a sardinian typical food of ancient origin and are known as “carta musica” (music sheets) due to its mien as a translucent paper. Its traces have been found in the archaeological excavation of Nuraghi, which proved the existence of these Italian breads prior to 1000 BC.

Why is the bread so good in Iceland? ›

How is Icelandic volcano bread made? The two key elements here are low and slow. The bread develops considerable sweetness by allowing the loaf to cook over a much longer period than if you were to place it in a regular oven. The dough contains no yeast; instead, a sourdough starter kicks off proceedings.

What kind of flour do Sardinians use? ›

It is one of the oldest breads made in the land of the centenarians, and is also widespread on the opposite side of the island, in Montiferru, Marghine and Planargia. Its main ingredients are semolina and durum wheat flour, water, salt and yeast.

How many calories are in pane carasau? ›

Nutrition facts
Nutrition facts100g
EnergykJ1476
Kcal348
Fatg1,6
g0,3
5 more rows

What is Elvis bread? ›

The Elvis Presley Loaf. Peanut Butter Banana Walnut Bread As everybody knows… Elvis loved his banana peanut butter sandwiches. I decided to combine the two ingredients to make this banana bread.

How different is Sardinian from Italian? ›

Sardinian cannot be said to be closely related to any dialect of mainland Italy; it is an archaic Romance tongue with its own distinctive characteristics, which can be seen in its rather unique vocabulary as well as its morphology and syntax, which differ radically from those of the Italian dialects.

What is Sardinia national dish? ›

Pecora in cappotto. This mutton stew, made with rich broth, wild herbs, and potatoes, is the quintessential dish of the Sardinian islands. The name, which translates to “sheep in a coat,” is a reference to a pastoral tradition of leaving the oldest sheep in the herd unshorn during annual sheep-shearing feast.

What is a typical Sardinian liqueur? ›

Mirto (licòre/-i de murta in Sardinian, licòr di mortula in Corsican) is a popular liqueur in the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Capraia. It is obtained from the myrtle plant through the alcoholic maceration of the berries or a compound of berries and leaves.

What is Sardinian bottarga? ›

Bottarga: The Golden Caviar Of Sardinia 0 Comments

Mullet (the most valued), tuna or swordfish eggs, salted, pressed and then dried up for a few months. A very ancient technique. It seems that the word "bottarga" comes from the Arabic butarikh - salted fish eggs.

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