Simple Tomato Basil Flatbread (Printable Version)

Golden flatbread topped with ripe tomatoes and fragrant basil, baked to a crisp finish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon instant yeast
03 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
04 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 2/3 cup warm water
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for brushing

→ Topping

07 - 2 medium ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
08 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Method:

01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add warm water and olive oil, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
02 - Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
03 - Heat oven to 430°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
04 - Roll dough into a rough oval or rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Brush dough with olive oil. Arrange tomato slices evenly and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until crust is golden and crisp.
07 - Remove from oven, scatter torn basil leaves on top, drizzle with additional olive oil, slice, and serve warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The dough needs only ten minutes of rest, not the usual hour or more you expect from yeast recipes.
  • It tastes like youve been cooking all day but youll be done in less than forty minutes start to finish.
  • You can top it with whatever you have on hand and it still turns out golden and delicious every time.
02 -
  • If your dough feels too sticky to knead, dust your hands and the counter with a little extra flour, but dont add too much or the crust will turn out tough.
  • Wait until after baking to add the basil, because putting it on before turns the leaves black and takes away all that fresh, peppery flavor.
03 -
  • Use a pizza stone if you have one, it makes the bottom even crispier and cooks the flatbread more evenly.
  • Brush the edges with a little garlic-infused olive oil before baking for an extra layer of flavor that makes it taste like it came from a bakery.
Return