Savory Apfel Flammkuchen (French-German Savory Apple Flatbread)
Shanna
A tasty savory flatbread topped with crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions, bacon lardons and sweet-tart apple that originates from the Alsace region of France and Germany. Easy to prepare and cooks in just a few minutes. Perfect for a light dinner, cut up into wedges as an appetizer or snack.
500gramspizza flour or all purpose flourItalian 00 flour is best
1 ½teaspoonkosher salt
300mlwarm wateraround 110 Deg F
7gramsinstant yeast1 packet or 2 ¼ teaspoon (omit if making non-yeast version)
½teaspoonsugar
4tablespoonsolive oil
For the toppings:
12ouncesCrème Fraîche (340 grams
Salt
Pepper
Nutmeg
6-8strips Baconcut into lardons
1cupOnionwhite or red, cut in half then sliced into thin half circles
1-2applesGranny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink lady etc - cut in half, core removed, very thinly sliced (do not have to peel if you don't want.
Juice of one lemon - about two tablespoons
Fresh herbs - I used thymeyou can also use rosemary, parsley etc.
Instructions
For the yeast dough:
In a bowl of a stand mixer ( or a large mixing bowl) whisk together the flour and salt. In a measuring cup measure out the warm water then stir in the yeast and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until yeast starts to bubble.
With the mixer on low, add the oil slowly to the flour then add in the yeast mixture. Keep on low until the dough forms a shaggy ball. Raise speed to medium low ( around a 4 on the settings) and knead for five minutes.
Transfer the dough ball to a lightly oiled bowl (or you can remove the dough from the mixer bowl, oil in then add the dough ball back in) and cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Place in a warm, draft free area for one hour.
Heat the oven:
At this time pre-heat your oven to 500 Deg F with a pizza stone, pizza steel or baking sheet that can withstand high temps placed on the highest rack about 6-8 inches below the broiler elements. This is important since half the cooking is done with the broiler. Heat for an hour before baking (same amount of time the dough needs to rise).
Prepare the toppings while the dough is rising and oven is heating:
Mix together the crème fraîche with the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Keep chilled until ready to use.
Slice the bacon into lardons ( thin, widthwise strips) and cook in a skillet ( cast iron preferably) until about ⅔ of the way cooked. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
Remove the core from the apples using an apple corer or cutting into quarters and cutting out then thinly slice. Almost paper thin slices.
Onion - remove peel, cut in half and slice super thin.
Once the dough is ready - remove and cut into 4 even pieces. About 215 grams each. Working with one piece of dough at a time. Roll out to a thin rectangle about 10 by 15 inches then place on a piece of parchment paper.
Spread one-fourth of the seasoned crème fraîche on top then add a fourth of each the bacon, onions then apples and sprinkle with a teaspoon or so of fresh thyme. Repeat with remaining dough to prepare all the flatbreads at once ( if you have the counter space).
If your baking stone/steel or baking sheet is large enough you can bake two at a time, if not bake one at a time.
To bake the flatbreads:
Slide onto your heated stone/steel/baking sheet on the parchment ( using a pizza peel if you have one) and bake for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, remove the parchment and switch your oven to broil and broil for 2 more minutes, turning the flatbreads after a minute. If you want an even darker more charred crust, cook for another minute. Transfer the flatbread to a cutting board and repeat with remaining ingredients to make four flatbreads. If baking more than one at a time the same steps work for both and time to cook.
Cut into wedges and serve. These go great with a nice German Weissbier.
Notes
f making the dough without the yeast, omit the yeast and follow the same directions as making the dough. The resting time will only be twenty minutes. No need to proof in a warm area since we aren’t needing to make the yeast do its thing. I highly suggest using a pizza stone, steel or even pizza oven if you have one to get that nice, crisp crust. A baking sheet works as long as it can withstand high temps. I start with the flatbreads on parchment to slide them into the oven easily since they are so thin. Then the parchment is removed to help get the bottom of the crust super crisp. I have made these using all broiling instead of baking and then broiling and I burnt them. I found that baking first to get the bottom of the crust super crispy first then broil to char the top. Flammkuchen is best served same day still hot, but it is still really good cold the next day.