Recipe: Truffled Potato & Goat Cheese Flatbread
Pizza and flatbreads are in constant dinner rotation at my house. I’m always shocked at how quickly homemade dough comes together (not to mention that it freezes like a dream) so we always have an extra round or two on any given weeknight. And because you can justify putting practically anything on top, there is nothing you can’t throw in the mix — even potatoes and truffle oil!
What is flatbread exactly? Well, depending on where you come from it might be glorified pizza dough, homemade crackers, or bread leavened with baking soda and browned on a griddle. As for me, I’m think flatbread falls in the pizza camp, but with lighter toppings and no heavy sauce.
This flatbread recipe is a twist on my perfected pizza dough, however I reduced the amount of yeast and added a splash of garlic-infused olive oil. (Talk about amping up the flavor!) The potato, goat cheese, and truffle oil topping — inspired by a restaurant where I used to work — is an all-time favorite of mine. Whenever I host pizza parties, the complementary pairing is always a surprise hit for the self-declared meat-lovers of the bunch.
If you’re in a hurry, store bought pizza dough works great, too; you could even use pita bread in a real pinch. And don’t think this flatbread is just for dinner. It also makes a delicious, and addictive, appetizer. In fact I may just have to serve it at my annual Oscar party come Sunday. (Perhaps I’ll source some fresh truffles to shave over the top in an attempt to gild the lily? Bring on the gold statues and champagne!)
Truffled Potato & Goat Cheese Flatbread
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups
warm water
- 16 1/4 ounces
bread flour (about 3 3/4 cups)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons
garlic-infused olive oil (I like Trader Joe's)
For the potato topping:
- 8 ounces
small yellow potatoes, sliced paper thin (about 5 to 6 potatoes)
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil, divided
- 4 ounces
soft goat cheese
Fresh thyme
Freshly grated Parmesan
Red pepper flakes
Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Black truffle oil
Instructions
To make the dough, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes, until dissolved.
Mix the flour and salt in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with hook attachment. Add the olive oil and the yeast mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, 3 to 5 minutes. (If dough seems very sticky at this point, add a tablespoons or two of flour.)
Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm dry place to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Punch down dough and form into a ball. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
To make the flatbread, place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat to 450°F. (If you don't have a pizza stone the flatbread can be baked on a sheet pan.)
Divide the dough in half, setting one round aside for another use (the extra can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months). Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper and roll into a very thin, large rectangle. Brush the surface with a tablespoon of olive oil and prick the dough all over with a fork to prevent it from rising.
Toss the sliced potatoes with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Arrange the potatoes over the dough and season generously with salt and pepper. Transfer the parchment paper with the flatbread to the pizza stone and bake until dough is crisp and potatoes are golden, about 15 minutes.
Remove flatbread from the oven. Garnish with thyme leaves. Crumble the goat cheese over the flatbread followed by a handful of grated Parmesan. Follow with red pepper flakes and additional salt and pepper. Drizzle with truffle oil. Slice into triangles or squares and serve immediately.