Flatbread with Milk (Kazakhstan Shelpek)

Shelpek is a traditional flatbread hailing from Kazakhstan. It's made with a combination of flour, sugar, milk, salt, yeast or baking powder, and oil for frying. Once prepared, the dough is divided into balls, and each one is then rolled into a thin circle. The disks are dropped in hot oil and fried on both sides until golden. Shelpek is especially significant on Friday, the holiest day of the week in Muslim world, and the flatbread is prepared to honor the memory of the ones that passed away. Once done, these flatbreads are folded, then served with cheese, jam, or sour cream, usually in the afternoon, accompanied by a cup of tea on the side.

2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
¼ tsp. instant yeast
½ cup milk
½ tsp. sea salt
vegetable oil, for frying

Take the flour, instant yeast, salt in a bowl, add luke warm milk and knead well.

Drop the dough on a floured surface and knead everything well until the dough turns soft and elastic.

Arrange dough in a greased bowl, wrap it and leave the dough for an hour.

After an hour, punch the dough and divide the dough into 5-6 balls.

Dust the ball and roll as thin circle as possible.

Meanwhile heat oil for shallow frying in a frying pan.

Once the oil is hot, drop the rolled disc and fry on both sides until the shelpek gets cooked.

Continue the same process with the remaining dough.

Serve shelpek with herbed cream, jam or cheese.