Strawberry Balsamic Flatbread
Am I the only jerk that still orders a medium coffee at Starbucks?
What am I supposed to say?… grande. When it comes down to order time, I always choke. I feel like I’ll sound like a complete tool ordering a grande… but now I realize that I sound more like a tool ordering a medium. I dunno…. it’s just coffee! Can you just give me coffee?
I was at a Starbucks this weekend, saying grande over and over in my head… I was focused. I was on my A-game. Then… I overheard the lady in front of me order some sort of half caf/nonfat/extra foam/iced/capp…. with less than half a pump of chocolate.
I was totally thrown off my game. Why would anyone order an iced cappuccino? With extra foam? What does that even look like? And I don’t think the chocolate croissant you just ordered is doing any favors to your nonfat iced creation. I’m so confused. What are you doing? And Lord! How much did that handbag cost you!? And does anyone really say handbag anymore… or is that like saying pocketbook!? I am old.
…. and then, when my turn came, I ordered a medium…. when all I was trying to do was be a normal person and order a grande.
… and then I went home and made strawberry bread… and that felt right. Then people came over and Whitney brought wine… and it felt even righter (more right, duh).
This bread is like a fluffy flatbread. Is that a thing? It’s like focaccia. That’s definitely a thing.
Let me walk you through this bread…. because I made it and I want you to make it too!
This bread has three rises. Don’t let that deter you. Three rises, but no mixer… does that make things better?
The first rise is yeast, warm water, and a cup of flour. It’s left for an hour to get foamy, frothy, and alive with yeast.
After the first rise, more flour is added… that’s what’s pictured above.
After the first rise, more flour, oil, salt, and sugar are added to the dough. It’s almost ready for the second rise!
But first we add orange zest… because it’s fragrant and delicious.
A little kneading, and the dough is ready for the second rise!
After the second rise, the dough is stretched and rolled out, and placed in a sheet pan.
Let is rise for a short time more and top with olive oil, sliced strawberries, and coarse sea salt.
Oh man. So pretty, right!?
After the bread is baked, it’s topped with goat cheese, balsamic vinegar and fresh mint. Look how fancypants this is! And it’s really not that hard!
The best part is serving it to friends. They’ll freak. I promise.
This bread is somewhere in between sweet and savory. It’s neither and both. It’s an enigma. The dough itself is only slightly sweet, but the added orange zest makes it seem just a touch sweeter. The goat cheese, mint, and strawberries also push this bread to the sweet end of the spectrum… but it’s certainly not very desserty.
I served this bread for brunch with quiche and salad. Win.
Strawberry Balsamic Flatbread with goat cheese and fresh mint
makes 12 squares
recipe adapted from LA Times
2 packages (about 5 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (between 110 and 115 degrees F)
3 cups of flour, divided into 1 cup increments
3 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 cup thinly sliced strawberries
coarse sea salt for topping
1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
good quality balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
1 tablespoon fresh mint, coarsely chopped
In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water. Stir to dissolve. I use a fork so I can mash and stir any yeast clumps. Add the flour and blend together until smooth. Cover and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
After the mixture has risen, remove the covering and stir in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, sugar, and orange zest. Add one cup of flour and stir to blend. Add the remaining cup of flour and salt and work together into a dough.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add up to 1/3 cup more flour and knead. Dough will be slightly sticky, and that’s alright.
Clean out the large bowl and coat with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Place dough in the bowl, and flip it over so that it’s entirely coated in oil. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Punch the dough down and knead for just a minute, before pulling and stretching the dough into a 16×9-inch rectangle. I used a rolling pin to help me to this. Place on a greased baking sheet and let rise for 30 minutes.
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
When dough has risen, use your fingers to make random indentations in the puffed dough. Drizzle with olive oil. Top with sliced strawberries, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake bread for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden, crisp and baked through. I rotated the pan once, halfway through baking.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the baking pan, slice into squares with a pizza cutter and drizzle with balsamic vinegar, goat cheese, and fresh mint.
Serve.
This bread is best served within 2 days of baking.
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My mom and I were gifted two bottles of Olivier VSOP Balsamic Vinegar recently… it would be perfect for this recipe. Have you had it? You can drink it straight it’s so good.
As for Starbucks, in the rare occasion that I go, I get a tall non-fat latte, no foam. Then I get yelled at because “That’s what makes a latte a latte, the foam!” I don’t care. Get that crappy foam away from me.
I might show up at your doorstep tired and hungry, begging for strawberry flatbread. I’ll most likely have wine and/or bourbon with me to prevent you from turning me away :-)
I always order a tall, if that makes you feel any better! And that strawberry flatbread looks incredible. As soon as I get my oven fixed, I’m making it!
Try it with basil instead of mint. OMGYUM.
…Okay, you can’t say “grande” but you can say “focaccia”? Seriously Joy. *giggle* ;o)
…The only thing missing from the photo of the dough in its second rise is all the little “pinches” I would’ve made from eating the raw dough…sorry. My bad. :o\
…I love this and will give it a whirl when the hubs is gone on a fishing trip or something, otherwise I’ll hear, “you’re making what?” and “what’s that?” and “you oughta leave that out” and…well, you get the picture. *sigh*
…Thanks for sharing and I love the table cloth!
…Blessin’s… :o)
I love your place setting. And that bread. And the fact that you order a medium coffee at Starbucks. And that your say handbag.
I have the same problem – I thought it was because I’m English – what’s wrong with medium???
You are so funny, Joy. I am a northwest gal and buying coffee has turned into somewhat of an art form, I guess. I took me so long to be able to say “grande” and now I look like a tool when I got to Tully’s or another coffee shop with my Starbuck’s venacular. Keep us laughing, sweetie!
I am SO all about this, you have no idea. Strawberries, and balsamic, and bread! And your seriously fabulous table-setting! Joy, we need to be friends, okay?
This bread looks delish! When I saw it in your post about the salad I was drooling!
By the way I totally feel you about the Starbucks sizing, I ALWAYS end up with a tall because by the time I get up to the counter to order all the other names have flown out of my head! :-) I only get what I really want when my hubby orders, he’s a Starbucks pro!
I feel weird ordering at Starbucks too lol. This flatbread is so creative and looks amazing!
Love this pizza recipe. I like the idea of putting the orange zest in the pizza dough.
hello Lovely ~
I’m completely with you on how to order coffee – which is why I usually avoid Starbucks and head to Peet’s. It’s so much more normal.
And this flat bread is gorgeous. Thanks for adapting the original in a much more delicious way! What a very *Joy* thing to do.
I LOVE YOU!!! Thank you! For being so freaking cool. I say old-fashioned things all the time, like, “Oh my Word!!” :)
Anyway…..you always make smile and remind to never change who I am.
Love the look at this: pretty and tasty-result. I’m completely loving strawberries in everything at the moment, I just made a strawberry, rocket, and balsamic sandwich, yum, see it on my blog : spooninginthekitchen.blogspot.com
I need the in my life right now. The two pints on strawberries in the fridge are just begging for this to be made….maybe tomorrow.
Well that is a new twist I love it. Strawberry time in England, its nearly Winbledon and the grass court season after all, Queens Club has started so I need to get going, thanks loads
Seriously, looks so tasty and perfect for summer! Definitely adding this to my list of recipes I’ve been amassing since I found this blog a few days ago. God, you’re good!
And I gotta say, just keep ordering the mediums. If I were taking your coffee order, (in which case, I guess they call me a “Barista”) I would just be happy to not be listening to the tongue twister of a coffee order that previous customer spat out. Go with your gut, it’s just coffee. Just because Starbucks wants you to call it a grande, doesn’t mean it’s not just a medium. Don’t buy in!
That flatbread looks DEE-LISH!!! What a great combo of flavors!! Oh, and BTW you’re in America and medium is a-ok!!! :D
I have to say that the whole balsamic/strawberry combination makes me nervous. I’ve had some pretty gnarly (in a bad way) balsamic experiences and usually keep the application of such a liquid to a bare minimum. However I adore you and all you do so I’m definitely going to have to serve this up. I’m thinking scrambled eggs with this and more fresh fruit on the side. Yum!
You’d be amazed how many people here in NYC say “pocketbook” I need that flatbread, btw.
lol. you make me laugh so hard!
this looks like strawberry bread pizza… mmm
Oh my! This bread looked so good that I made it immediately. Of course, my first batch was a big fail (Don’t use old yeast bought at a discount store. Lesson learned. The hard way.). But my second dough turned out lovely. I’m going to post it on my blog because something this good needs to be shared.What a great recipe – thanx so much!
WANT.
Mhmm that bread looks delicious. I love sweet + salty things and I’ve been wanting to make bread lately so this recipe is perfect. Can’t wait to try it :D
Often your blog makes me drool. and laugh. But rarely do I snort aloud. I always feel like a moron ordering mediums there too. But I’m so afraid a grande will result in some 64 oz coffee or something.
Also – sweet and savory bread? This blog post was a win in my book.
Baristas make me stutter. Every time I try to make an order fit for a coffee aficionado I end up saying “regular coffee.” Sometimes I vary it with “iced coffee.”
After college I worked at a coffee shop in L.A. – because I majored in history. One time, Mary Kate – or was it Ashley? – which ever is the anorexic one – called ahead to order her soy vanilla cappuccino whatever. First, it is really hard to foam soy milk. Second, calling in your coffee order ensures that it will be either a) cold when you get there or b) not ready when you get there. Both “a” and “b” tend to annoy patrons like the Olsen twins. I guess the point of this weird story is that have no fear in ordering a medium, Joy. The Starbuck’s baristas are probably relieved to have someone so normal and polite in their midst.
Also, this bread looks amazing and I giggled thinking about my grandma calling it a pocketbook and telling me that my slacks look nice.
I definitely always ask for my coffees in starbucks as small, medium or large. sod tall grande and venti. I do get quite intimidated though and as i’m about to launch into a ‘skinny mocha frocha lattechino double shot extra hot with vanilla syrup’ I end up just asking for ‘small latte skimmed milk please thanks’
Stressful
I’m making this next weekend when we’re on the Cape… no question about that! Served with a big glass of wine!
I love this post! I totally know how you feel at starbucks, right down to ordering and still saying medium and feeling weird about to to the lady who is way too put together for that early in the morning with a handbag that is worth more than my rent! And I can’t wait to try this bread!
That is so funny- I order a small chai, I don’t know their code for it, don’t even attempt it. So many other details to remember. Pocketbook is out? I’m not really old, only 36, always have called my pocketbook a pocketbook.
This recipe looks amazing- can’t wait to try it this weekend!
I have come back to this page about a zillion times over the past 2 days, just to look at the picture. I should just make the bread already.
I thought I was the only one who was freaked out by ordering at Starbucks! My boss was just laughing at me for this exact scenario. But hey, I can bake!
Gorgeous recipe – love bread with stuff in/on it!! And I am so with you on the Starbucks lingo. Who can keep it straight? And if I want a “small,” then I don’t WANT to call it “tall.” It’s small, not tall! So I try to only go to places that don’t have lingo.
okay, so that bread looks like it will change my life. yum.
also, I am a definite “medium” orderer at Starbucks!! yes, really! and the other day, at another coffee shop, I ordered “a twelve ounce latte, please,” and the girl snapped “we don’t have twelve ounce cups!” so I humbly ordered a “small” (a.k.a., a twelve-ounce cup), took my latte, and fled. whatever. i just want the coffee! :)
Nope, I still order a medium and I say handbag :)
They just do that to feel fancy and important….real coffee people order a dark roast coffee with real cream ;) None of that fake sugar or stuff. I save about $3 per cup and that money goes into my “handbag” piggy jar or boots piggy jar. hahah.
Hahaha, I am exactly the same with saying grande! Many times I have ordered a tall just to avoid it! :)
Joy, you had me with just the title of this post… and then I saw the pictures. Goat cheese too! All my favorite ingredients in one amazing looking package.
Drool…… Too bad I am going out of town this afternoon because I want to make this NOW! Thanks for the great recipe, as always.
I’m with you. I’m a little bit anti-Starbucks though, so I order by ounces or sm/med/lg….not those pretentious names they give their drink sizes.
I’m sitting inside work on a gorgeous day- wishing i was outside, and I browsed over to your site…and just the prettyness of the bread made me a bit happier. Weird how food can do this. I want to make this bread very soon! Thanks for the post. I also choke at Starbucks when i order- just so you know.
It has been a while since I’ve been motivated to just cook something because it looks so divine I don’t want to wait until it’s convenient. So I made this last night at 11 o’clock, through the second rise. I just pulled it out of the oven … Holy sweet mercy.
Thank you.
Divine.
Added bonus: I’ve got knit night tonight where my knitting buddies will admire the beauty and deliciousness, far more than the heathens I live with who demanded strawberry-only bread. Which was pretty good. But not nearly as good as the whole thing.
I don’t drink coffee, but I do believe that here in New England we say medium. We don’t get all la dee dah about it.
This looks like a beautiful West Coast meal that will make this California born girl feel at home. And it’s almost strawberry season here!
What I really really need to know is what kind of wine?
Can I just say…I love you. :) Thanks for the smile today and the yummy recipe. I needed that after coming home from vacation to find the entire contents of my fridge/freezer defrosted, spoiled, moldy, etc. It was a sad day for this foodie.
Soo I decided after much consideration..( well not really I just had to look at your picture of this bread and knew immediatly that I needed to make it) I chose to make this bread tonight…and now, I don’t know if it’s the bread talking or the bottles of wine that we ingested while cooking, waiting and eating the bread but the decicion is this …WE LOVE YOU JOY THE BAKER!!!!!
Doesn’t grande mean large? You’re better off saying medium when you order. Less confusing. And I bet the strawberry flatbread will go great with a medium coffee!
I’m not a big fan of goat cheese. Is there another type of cheese that I could use?
how about a mild blue cheese?
I made this over the weekend for my Book Club’s picnic on the beach. It was a huge hit! And great since some ladies were vegan, so I just left the goat cheese off half of it. Though I personally think the goat cheese makes it! Truly delicious! Thanks for sharing!
i’m so glad you liked this!!
So, I work at Starbucks, and we don’t care if you say grande or medium. haha
It’s totally not important as long as we know what drink you want.
Also, iced cappuccinos are disgusting. Like really. It’s ice, espresso, and cold milk topped with hot milk foam. Ew. We hate people who order those.
I LOVE the customers that order Mediums!! IT reminds me that your human :) I work for Starbucks and now I feel like I’m the tool whenever I walk into another coffee shop and order a “grande”. I simply can’t order mediums anymore. I’m always talking fake Italian now so I feel it is natural when coffee is involved. I want to hug my “medium” customers!