Lagana

Lagana (Λαγάνα) is an ancient Greek flatbread traditionally baked for Clean Monday (Καθαρα’ Δευτερα) – the first day of the Great Lent. (Clean Monday actually refers to the abstention from sinful attitudes and non-fasting food ). Traditionally, it was prepared unleavened (without the yeast), like those mentioned in the Old Testament, but leavened lagana is nowadays more common. It is typically flat, oval-shaped, with surface decorated by impressing fingertips.

Sesame seeds are a common topping, and it may also be topped with other herbs, and seasoned with olive oil. Linguistically, the word lagana comes from the Greek word “ laganon” (in ancient Greek: λάγανον), which is also the origin of the Italian word lasagna.

Lagana is never cut with a knife but rather broken apart, because iron, the stuff of knife-making long ago, was believed to contain the powers of evil.

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Ingredients:

500 g hard flour (bread flour)
350 ml water, at room temperature
10 g dry yeast
pinch of granulated sugar
10 g salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

For coating

2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon sugar
sesame seeds

Method:

Preheat oven to 220° C (446° F)
Combine the water, yeast and sugar in a mixer’s bowl.
Set it aside for 15-20 minutes so the yeast can activate.
Add the flour, salt and olive oil.
Knead by hand for at least 10 min.
When ready, transfer the dough to a bowl.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 1-2 hours, until it doubles in size.
Punch down the dough and divide it in to 2 equal halves.
Lay out a sheet of parchment paper on to a working surface.
Add your dough, dust with some flour and roll out. If it is too difficult to roll out, dust with some more flour.
Form 2 flat oval loaves
Transfer to a baking pan along with the parchment. Simply lift the edges of the parchment and transfer.
Repeat the exact same process for the other half of the dough.
To make the coating, combine the water and sugar in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
Brush coating over both flatbreads and sprinkle with a generous amount of sesame seeds over the top.
Set them aside for 20 minutes, so they can rise again.
When they have risen, use your index finger to make indentations all over the dough. This gives the “lagana” its characteristic appearance.
Drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil.
Bake for about 20 minutes. Make sure your oven is properly preheated so that the flatbread can turn out as crunchy as possible.
When golden and crunchy, remove from oven and serve it in the traditional Greek manner with Taramosalata (Fish Roe Dip), Potato Garlic Mash and Kalamata olives.