Norwegian Potato Flatbread (Lefse)

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Description

This is my take on Norwegian flatbread. Without really knowing what I was doing, these came out delightfully tender, supple, almost fabric-like in texture, and tasting deliciously like something between a crepe and a potato pancake. They’re traditionally served with butter and a sprinkle of sugar, but I also enjoy them with some smoked salmon, sour cream, and fresh dill. My other favorite topping combo is butter and some kind of berry jam and sour cream.

Ingredients

  • 1 large russet potato
  • 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an oven-safe skillet or baking pan with aluminum foil.
  2. Poke the potato skin all over with a knife and place on the prepared pan.
  3. Roast in the preheated oven until very tender and easily pierced with a knife
  4. about 1 hour. Let sit until cool enough to handle but still very warm.
  5. Scoop potato flesh out into a bowl. Mash smooth with the back of a spatula until there are no lumps left. You can also use a potato ricer. Add the butter and mix until it disappears. Add the salt
  6. sugar
  7. and cream; mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled
  8. about 2 hours.
  9. Mix in flour in several additions until the dough is able to be kneaded by hand. Add enough flour to form a soft
  10. but not too sticky
  11. dough. You need to be able to roll it out fairly thin without it falling apart.
  12. Wrap dough with plastic and refrigerate until chilled
  13. about 1 hour.
  14. Divide dough into 8 portions. Dust each with flour and roll out onto a well-floured kitchen towel to 1/8-inch thick
  15. or thinner.
  16. Heat a very lightly buttered nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook the lefse in the hot pan
  17. poking the surface lightly with a fork
  18. until golden brown blisters form
  19. 2 to 3 minutes per side. Stack on a plate as they’re cooked and keep covered with a towel. Serve warm.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins

Total Time: 4 hrs 55 mins

Servings: 8

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