Hittite Apple-Honey-Walnut Flatbread
This apple-honey-walnut flatbread is inspired by the flavors and ingredients available in the Hittite Empire during the Late Bronze Age. Built on a base of emmer flour, it reflects the central role of bread in Hittite life, both as daily sustenance and as a sacred offering to the gods. Apples bring the orchard harvest into the mix, while walnuts add richness and coriander adds a fragrant, ancient spice note. Drizzled with honey, this simple yet elegant bread reimagines what might have graced the tables—or temple altars—of Bronze Age Anatolia.
Ingredients
- ½ cup emmer flour or whole wheat as substitute
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil or sheep’s butter
- 2 –3 tbsp water
- ½ small tart apple finely chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp crushed walnuts
- Pinch of crushed coriander seed
Instructions
- Make the dough – Mix emmer flour, salt, and oil in a bowl. Slowly add water until a smooth, slightly sticky dough forms. Rest for 10–15 minutes.
- Prepare the topping – Combine apple, honey, walnuts, and coriander in a bowl. Let sit to blend flavors.
- Assemble – Preheat oven to 400 °F (205 °C). Roll dough into a 4–6″ round about ¼″ thick. Spoon topping in the center.
- Bake – On a hot stone or baking sheet, bake 12–15 minutes until golden and apples soften. Optionally broil for 1 minute to caramelize nuts and honey.
- Serve – Enjoy warm, imagining a Hittite baker doing much the same over 3,000 years ago.
Video
Notes
- Emmer flour was the primary grain of the Hittite world; whole wheat flour works well as a substitute if emmer is unavailable.
- Use a tart, firm apple for the best flavor balance with the honey’s sweetness.
- Lightly toasting the walnuts before adding them will deepen their flavor and give the flatbread a richer aroma.