Piadine with Prosciutto, Mozzarella, and Arugula

There are at least a dozen versions of flatbread in Italy, from focaccia in Liguria and pizza in Naples to the crisp, paper-thin cracker bread known as carta da musica (“music paper”) from Sardinia.

In Le Marche, the region just north of Abruzzo, there is the piadina, a savory flatbread filled with all sorts of goodies such as tomatoes, greens, peppers and sausages. Chef Fabio Trabocchi, a native of Le Marche and owner of several restaurants in D.C., included a recipe in his 2006 cookbook, Cucina of Le Marche, from which this recipe is adapted.

The dough calls for baking powder rather than yeast, and for whole milk in place of water. It also uses a soft lard known as manteca. I decided to take a small risk and use softened butter instead. It made for a soft dough, but one that rolled out nicely. And when it came time to cook the piadine, in a grill pan on the stovetop, it turned out picture-perfect and deliciously crisp-tender.

This recipe takes time. The dough needs to rest for a few hours, then divided and rolled into eight piadine, which are cooked, stuffed and heated briefly in the oven.

It’s well worth the effort, though, and if you have kids, it’s a good hands-on recipe to make with them. They can help knead and roll out the dough, as well as cook and stuff the flatbreads. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can put out an array of fillings for folks to choose from: leftover grilled sausage, pepperoni or salami, roasted peppers, grilled eggplant and any number of good melting cheeses. Some of my favorites are fontina, asiago fresco and smoked mozzarella.

This summery version calls for prosciutto, mozzarella, and arugula. Serve the piadine with a simple tomato salad, a crunchy mixed green salad, or even alongside a bowl of cream of tomato soup.

PIADINE WITH PROSCIUTTO, MOZZARELLA, AND ARUGULA
Makes 8 piadine

Ingredients

For the dough
1/2 cup whole milk
4 cups Italian 00 flour or all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface (see headnote)
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon kosher salt

For the filling
3 cups arugula, tough stems removed (2 ounces)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, at room temperature
1 pound fresh whole-milk mozzarella, cut into thin slices, at room temperature

Instructions

For the dough:
1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan over low heat just until warm (about 105 degrees).

2. Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add the butter, water, milk and salt. Beat on low speed for about 10 minutes, until the dough is thoroughly mixed and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Shape the dough into a smooth ball and place on a plate. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 3 hours at room temperature.

3. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape each one into a ball and place the balls on the plate. Cover again with the kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Dust the work surface with a little flour. Working with one ball of dough at a time, use a rolling pin to roll each one into a disk about 10 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Place on a piece of parchment or waxed paper; stack the disks between paper as you go.

5. Place a large nonstick skillet or seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once it is hot (after 1 to 2 minutes), carefully peel a disk of dough from the paper and place it in the skillet (the dough is quite delicate so use a gentle touch). Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the flatbread is slightly golden yet still soft, with some lightly charred spots. Use a spatula to turn over the disk; cook for 3 minutes, to achieve the same results on the second side. Transfer the piadina to a plate; repeat with the remaining disks, stacking them (no paper needed this time) as you go.

For the filling:
1. Toss the arugula with the oil until evenly coated. Divide the prosciutto, mozzarella and arugula so you have 8 equal portions of each.

2. Working with one piadina at a time, place it on a cutting board and cover the surface with the prosciutto, then the mozzarella the and the arugula. Fold the piadina over the filling to create a half-moon shape and place on a baking sheet. Fill the remaining piadine and divide between the baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time for 3 to 5 minutes, until the mozzarella is warmed through and just beginning to melt. Plate and serve.