Quick Flatbread Recipe with Flour and Water

Create delicious flatbreads easily with my 4-ingredient Quick Flatbread recipe. No yeast is needed! Just flour, water, oil, and salt. Perfect for a speedy stovetop bread.

Flatbreads are considered one of man’s oldest foods.

Across cultures, flatbreads take on diverse forms and flavors, from the soft naan of India to the crispy lavash of Armenia and from the versatile pita to the unleavened matzo.

Even Italy boasts its variation – the beloved piadina.   

Growing up in an Italian household, fresh homemade bread with yeast was a daily occurrence.  

That is why I’m fascinated by the simplicity of making bread without leavening agents. With just flour, water, oil, and salt, you can create a delightful, no-yeast flatbread that’s quick to prepare.

While many may associate flour and water solely with making pasta like cavatelli, these simple ingredients are also perfect for homemade flatbreads.

Today, I’m sharing a quick, easy flatbread recipe that will become a household favorite.

Jump to:

• How to make flour and water flatbread
• Tips
• Serving suggestions
• Yeast-free bread recipes
• Recipe origins
• Recipe

How to make flour and water flatbread

• In a small bowl, whisk 200 grams of flour with ⅛ teaspoon salt. Set aside. 
• In a larger mixing bowl, place 100 mL of room-temperature water along with a couple of tablespoons of the dry ingredients. 
• Start whisking together with a fork.
• Slowly incorporate a few more tablespoons of flour and keep whisking together.

• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil once half of the dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Use your hands to knead in the rest of the flour and add a few tablespoons at a time. 

• Once you have a ball of dough, knead on a lightly floured wooden board for approximately 2-3 minutes.
• Cover with plastic film and allow to rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature. 

• Divide the dough into 8 sections. Roll out each section in a ball.
• Dust your wooden board and rolling pin lightly with flour.
• Roll out each ball of dough into a 6-inch round disc, about one-eighth inch thick.

• Continue to roll out the other dough balls (discs can be stacked and separated with a piece of parchment paper).
• Heat a large grill pan, cast-iron skillet, or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. 
• Add the rolled-out dough.
• Cook until light charring occurs, about 1- 2 minutes. Adjust heat accordingly. 
• Turn over and continue to cook for an additional 1 minute.
• Transfer stove-top flatbread to a baking sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel to keep warm.  Repeat the same procedure for the rest of the dough.
• If desired, garnish with chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley.

Tips

• The idle time of 30 minutes makes the dough easier to roll out. 
• Using a nonstick skillet means no need to use butter or oil.
• Adjust the heat to get nicely charred bread.
• Garnish with your favorite herbs and spices.
• This flatbread is best the day you make it.
• Store leftover bread in an airtight container or plastic bag. 

Serving suggestions

Wrap It Up: Use your flatbread as a versatile wrap or sandwich base. Fill it with grilled vegetables, falafel, chicken spiedini, or your choice of protein and veggies for a satisfying meal on the go.

Dunk and Dip: Cut your flatbread into strips or wedges and bake until crispy for homemade flatbread chips. Perfect for dipping into salsa, or your favorite creamy yogurt sauce.

Soup and Stew Sidekick: They also make a great accompaniment to soups, veal stew or Italian ciambotta.

Open-Faced Sandwich Base: Try using your flatbread as a base for open-faced sandwiches, like this irresistible tuna melt. 

Yeast-free bread recipes

Here are some easy-to-make bread options that are yeast-free.

Recipe origins

I love collecting recipes, and one of my favorite sources has always been the local newspaper’s food section. It’s been a few years since I last added clippings to my collection, with so many recipes now easily accessible online.

This flatbread recipe dates back at least thirty years to my early days of learning how to make bread without yeast.

Recently, I stumbled upon it, and I just had to share it with all of you!

Enjoy!

★★★★★ If you have made this no-yeast quick flatbread, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

I originally published this post on March 29, 2020, and republished it on February 15, 2024, with updated content. Thanks for sharing.