It took me some time to realize that there are many different kinds of Moroccan bread that are actually made at home. And each one serves a different purpose. Batbout is a Moroccan pita, or an American equivalent of sandwich bread. It’s a Moroccan bread often used for a quick lunch (I loved eating it for a Moroccan breakfast with cheese inside.)
This bread is a little different because it’s cooked on the stovetop and not in the oven. It’s a good choice if you don’t have an oven but still want bread – as was the case when we first moved to Morocco.
Like many breads this recipe can be a little finicky. One very important thing to remember is you need to let the dough rest once you form it into rounds. Then it needs to be added to a skillet that is already hot. This is what helps create the little pocket.
What Can Batbout Be Used For?
Anything! Really it’s a piece of good, all-purpose bread. We use it for breakfast to scoop up eggs but it also just makes a very good sandwich option. When we travel we usually use this kind of bread cut in half and with fillings stuffed inside.
Normally you’ll see this served at breakfast but there’s no rule about when and what to eat with it. There’s also no rule on how big or small to make them. During Ramadan having mini stuffed batbout sandwiches is almost always on the table and I personally love the small size!
Some of my recipes that use or would work well with batbout bread include;
Hout Quari – Grilled Sardine Ball Sandwiches
Bssara – Split Fava Bean Soup
Moroccan Salad Recipes – My favorite meal is this bread eaten with one or several Moroccan salads.
How Do I Store Batbout Bread?
This bread doesn’t have any preservatives so it will go bad rather quickly. But if you want to preserve it and have it last a little longer you do have options.
We store extra bread in the refrigerator in a Ziploc bag for a few days and then reheat it before eating.
If you want to make a lot in advance for a dinner party or Ramadan, make it, allow it to cool completely, and then put it in a freezer-safe bag and into your freezer. To reheat just warm it up on the stove or in the oven for a few minutes until it’s soft again.
Step by Step Pictures to Make Moroccan Batbout
Batbout - Moroccan Pita Bread
This is the Moroccan version of pita bread. It's cooked on the stovetop, not in the oven.
Ingredients
- 4 cups white flour
- 2 cups semolina or wheat flour
- 2 Tbsp plus 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 Tbsp active yeast
- 2 cups water (approximate), divided
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by mixing it with ¼ cup of warm (not hot) water and a teaspoon of sugar. Set aside the mixture until it’s frothy, about five to 10 minutes.
- Blend the flours, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the yeast, the oil and the rest of the water, and mix to form a dough. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it’s too sticky to work with, add a little flour one tablespoon at a time. (Remember the dough will absorb a bit more flour if you knead it by hand.)
- If the dough feels a bit stiff, work in additional water, a tablespoon at a time. Knead the dough in a mixer with a dough hook, or by hand on a lightly floured surface, for about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
- Divide the dough into smooth balls and leave them to rest, covered, on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes.
- Roll out each ball into a thin circle about ⅛ inch thick. Set the rolled out dough on a clean, dry towel and cover. Leave to rise for about 1 to 1½ hours.
- Preheat a very lightly oiled cast iron skillet, griddle or other non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Cook the batbout, turning several times, until golden brown on both sides. The browning will be a bit uneven since the bread puffs up as it cooks, but that’s okay.
- Transfer the cooked batbout to a rack to cool. It’s okay to stack them while they’re warm.
Notes
A simple variation on this recipe is that instead of cooking the bread in a dry skillet, add oil and fry it to cook and then coat in honey and butter. This Moroccan fried bread is a special treat!
Looking for other Moroccan bread recipes? Try one of these!
- Traditional Moroccan Khobz (round bread)
- Moroccan Msemmen
Samantha
Sunday 24th of April 2022
Each month, I teach my six year old daughter all about a country and then we end the month making a pretty elaborate meal making dishes from that culture. Well, this month is Morocco and tomorrow my family will be driving down to join us.
At first I was making your khobz recipe, but I have no idea what I did wrong. They turned out like rocks! At 9:15 pm I attempted to try again (but this time with batbout). I am SO happy, that at a minute until midnight these little beauties have risen so much! I was so excited to just see them pop up in the cast iron. They are definitely going to be enjoyed by all.
Thank you!!
Amanda Mouttaki
Monday 25th of April 2022
Glad to hear this worked out! Enjoy!! My guess with the khobz is that you may have overworked the dough or it wasn't wet enough. Those are the two main things that can cause that result.
Janis Olson
Monday 19th of August 2019
I made these today, but they didn’t rise even though I kept flipping them. Also how does one move the circles to the pan without the dough flattening or losing its shape?
Amanda Mouttaki
Monday 19th of August 2019
It may have been your yeast wasn't good or they hadn't risen enough before cooking. You also may need to lower the heat a bit and let them cook longer on one side. It's a bit of trial and error until you get the technique down. The dough may shift some but if you move them they shouldn't get flat or lose their shape. One other trick is to use one of those very thin cutting boards that you can slide under them easily and to transfer.
Thursday 25th of April 2019
How long would i be able to freeze them for?
Amanda Mouttaki
Friday 26th of April 2019
In a freezer tight bag, it should be ok for 3-4 months.
MissPaper
Saturday 6th of April 2019
I am grateful for the recipes! We came home from a 12 day family trip across Morocco and are craving a Moroccan breakfast (feast)! Such a warm, welcoming place to adventure. We loved our time. Also thank you for Marvelous Morocco Tours recommendation for travelling with children for a camel treck at Erg Chibbi. ❤️
Eid al-Adha Celebration
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
[…] meals are very elaborate and some are simple. Ours was simple due to time constraints. I made batbout the night before with several different toppings. My favorite dish for Eid is Harabil but it […]