4 knead variation Recipes

you will need, all purpose flour (i used bread flour), semolina, salt, warm water to make dough or more (i used 1 1/4 cups), oil/melted butter, for frying & spreading, original recipe required 1 cup each oil and butter...i didn tsp use that much maybe, 1/3, mix flour ,semolina & salt., add 1 cup of water( warm to the touch), stir with wooden spoon until moistened., if the dough is a bit dry add about 1 tbsp water at a time until just moistened. mine felt that it needed about 4 tbsp more or about 1/4 cup. cover the dough and let it rest for about 30 minutes., it is at this time that you may want to clean up and get your work space ready. after the 30 minutes resting time, knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth. i used my kitchenaid mixer to do this job., divide the dough into about 9-10 dinner size rolls ., cover with kitchen towel to prevent skin from forming. spread about 2 tbsp oil on your counter top. take a roll of dough and place on oiled surface., spread into thin square sheet. lightly brush with melted butter., then fold like a business letter ( three sides). you should have a long rectangle., lightly brush with melted butter again. fold left third to center and then fold right third to center of rectangle., you should have a layered square....maybe the size of your palm. it is at this point that you may want to let it rest a bit., roll this square into a big square of 9x9 inch square( or thereabouts...doesn tsp have to be exact it could be smaller). the layers might move about on you a bit ...just be gentle and try to make it look like a square. if you let it rest a bit you won tsp have this problem. fry on preheated griddle or in a skillet on medium/low heat. you may add some oil and butter ( about 1 tbsp) in the hot skillet. i usually squirt a bit of oil from my oil dispenser and add a bit of butter to help with the browning. place the layered paratha(bread) and let it cook until the top seems a bit dry.* flip over and add a bit more butter/oil. press on the bread a bit, with a spatula, so that the second side gets brown as well., while it is cooking , i roll out the second dough...using the same method(while keeping an eye out on the skillet. i guess you can make them all ahead and this way you don tsp have to worry about watching the skillet. it might actually be better that you do them all in advance..., this bread is best eaten hot ...maybe right out of the skillet ., variation, i did a few parathas , where i added some chives, in the folding process. in case you would like to try this version, here are a couple of pictures.

bread flour, brown rice flour, wheat flour, rye flour, flax seeds, salt, yeast

beef stew topped with black pepper biscuit crust ingredients, beef for stew, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, canola oil, yellow onions, coarsely chopped, carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch lengths, stalks celery, coarsely chopped, garlic, minced, beef stock - recipe below, dry red wine (optional), bouquet garni : 3 rosemary sprigs, 4 flat-leaf parsley sprigs, 1 bay leaf, 3 to 4 peppercorns, ingredients for biscuit crust, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, heaping tbsp cracked pepper, salt, cold unsalted butter , cut into pieces, whole milk, unsalted butter, melted, minced fresh flat-leaf parsley for garnish (optional), preheat the oven to 350of., beef cubes dry with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper., in a large dutch oven or flameproof casserole, heat 2 tbsp of the oil over medium-high heat. sear the beef cubes on all sides until nicely browned. don tsp move the meat too much in the pot; let it sear so that it develops a nice browned crust. transfer the beef cubes to a plate. pour off the oil from the pot., return the pot to medium heat and add the remaining 1 tbsp oil. add the onions, carrots, and celery and saute for about 3 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. add the garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes., add the stock and wine and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. return meat and any accumulated juices to the pot., make a bouquet garni by tying the rosemary and parsley sprigs, bay leaf, and peppercorns in a square of cheesecloth. put the bouquet garni in the pot., cover the pot and braise in the oven for 2 hours and 15 minutes or until tender, stirring the stew several times., meanwhile , make the biscuit crust: in a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar, cracked pepper, and salt together. using your fingertips, a fork, or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs., add the milk all at once and stir just until the dough comes together in a mass., turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8 to 10 times, or just until cohesive. using a rolling pin or your hands, roll or pat the dough into a circle or oval about 1/4 inch thick., stew from the oven , uncover, and lay the dough on top. it will not fit perfectly or seal tightly. this is a rough topping. brush the dough with the melted butter., return the stew to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown., serve, remove the crust from the pan and set aside. serve the stew with the vegetables. cut the crust into pieces and top the meat with the crust. ladle sauce from the stew over the crust, meat, and vegetables. garnish with minced parsley, if desired., variation, serve in 6 individual onion soup crocks or similarly sized ovenproof dishes, put the meat into the crocks with the vegetables and sauce from the stew. increase the oven temperature to 425of., make the biscuit dough and roll it into a round about 1/2 inch thick. cut the dough into 6 rounds large enough to overlap the bowls by about 1/2 inch. lay the rounds over the crocks and crimp the edges to seal. brush with melted butter and set the crocks on a baking sheet. bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the crusts are golden brown.