Knäckebröd
Oh I love this cold weather hardy grain, it’s super tasty, high in fibre and sustaining. You’ll find it’s the dominant ingredient in most crispbreads across the Nordic region and not forgetting the large array of dark rye bread too.
Rye Flour and Kibbled Rye
You can’t go far in the Nordic region without seeing these rye or wholemeal flatbreads. Their origins lie in Sweden and Finland where they have been baked in their current form for around 500 years. Why the hole in the middle? Before the invention of the iron stove, baking these crisp flat breads was something people did in the rural communities, after the harvest and in spring. The hole in the middle was there to aid the drying-out, hanging and handling of the bread on long wooden poles above an open fire.
This recipe is so quick, simple and easy to make. You just have to remember to make the dough the night before you bake, if you’re using a sourdough starter. Delicious topped with gravlax, smoked meat or prawns and hard boiled egg. Having suggested all those toppings they are simply lovely with a mature hard cheese.
Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)
Ingredients
- 300 g Dark Rye Flour
- 100 g Wholemeal Spelt Flour
- 190-220 g Water I find 200g water perfect if I use a rye sourdough starter
- 60 g Rye Starter or 1/2tsp Fast Action Yeast
- 6 g Fine Sea Salt
- 1 Tbls Runny Honey
- 1 generous tsp caraway optional
Instructions
- Combine the two flours, caraway if using and the salt. Add the sourdough starter, honey, water or if you're using fast action yeast mix until you have a smooth dough. It should be firm, but if it seems too dry, add a little more water, a tablespoon at a time, and work until smooth. (If you're using fast action yeast you will definitely need to add more water)
- Cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rest overnight (8 hours). The mixture will only expand slightly but should smell “yeasty” and slightly sour the next day. The next day, prepare to bake the crispbread. Preheat the oven to 200°C Fan. Have a large baking tray ready in the oven.
- Divide the dough into 24, (approximately 25g each). Shape each piece into a ball and flatten one at a time into a disc and place on a well-floured work surface (use more rye flour) and roll out as thin as you can – around 1-2mm is an idea. Use a fork to prick all over the surface of each crispbread if you don't have a dimpled rolling pin. I like baking them with a hole in the middle but that is entirely optional. Continue until you've used all the dough.
- Remove the tray from the oven and place the crispbreads on the hot tray and bake in batches. Bake for around 8-10 minutes until the discs are lightly browned. Watch carefully as there is not much difference between done and burnt! Once you have baked all the crispbreads turn the oven off and leave until it has cooled right down. Place the crispbreads on a baking tray, it doesn't matter if they're piled on top of one another and return to a preheated oven (100°C) and bake for a further 20 minutes, turn the oven off and leave the crispbreads to cool in the oven. Store in an airtight container and they’ll keep for several weeks.
smörrebröd
Tips:
- Add 50g of mixed seeds (sesame, flax & sunflower).
- Add 11/2 tsp caraway or fennel
Absolutely delicious authentic knäckebröd. Very easy to make and definitely reminiscent of my ten months living in Sundbyberg. Gorgeous.
Great to hear! thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Louise, a quick question for you, if I may. Is the temperature given for a conventional oven or for a fan oven?
It’s for a fan oven. I will add that to the recipe.
Hi Louise. You mention runny honey in the ingredients, but I don’t see in your recipe when to introduce it. Can you let me know?
Hi Sophie, just add it with all the other ingredients.
Hi Louise,
Very keen to try it out! Can you tell me if the dough needs to rest in the fridge or out? Have you also got a recipe for the rye starter or levain for this recipe? Many thanks 🙂
Hi Irina, leave it out of the fridge. If you look up ‘how to make a sourdough starter’ on my blog. Just use rye flour instead of white.
Hi Louise, thanks for the answer, trying to bake this morning. My dough is very hard and I have added 220 water with my rye starter. Ps. does starter have to be active?
You don’t need an active starter no, discard is perfect for this recipe. I start by cutting the dough into small pieces ready to roll, making sure you cover them as you go. It is quite a stiff dough but as long the dough can be rolled it should be fine.