Pogacha (pogača) is a traditional bread without yeast. It was once baked daily in every Balkan and Central European home. There are as many ways to prepare pogacha as there are stars in the sky. Here's an easy, mouth-watering version.
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Background
Pogacha (pogača) is almost synonymous with bread in the Balkans.
There are many kinds of pogacha. There is the Christmas kind (e.g. česnica or Božićna pogača). And also the flower looking kind (e.g. rose or ruža pogača).
Today's recipe is for the everyday kind. Slightly crunchy outside. Incredibly soft inside.
And mouth-watering everywhere!
As per wikipedia, the pogacha name is most likely a union of Latin panis focacius, meaning “bread baked on the hearth.” You can find several versions of it in every former Yugoslav state, from Serbia to Slovenia.
One could say that historically, pogacha indeed was baked in fire.
Let me clarify.
It used to be baked in a sač (Bosnia) or peka (Croatia). This is a large, round metal pan with a bell shaped lid. Once the food is placed inside a sač and the lid closed, it’s buried in hot ashes and live coal.
This method circulates the heat. It creates a sort of natural convection oven. The food is at the same time cooked in its own juices, and baked.
(Just imagine how flavorful the bread made this way is!)
Although sač is used mostly in restaurants today, it’s also how pogacha got its round shape.
Yeast-free Bread
Historically, pogacha was made without yeast. (This has since changed.) Instead, baking soda and/or baking powder were used as leavening agents.
This method results in bread that doesn’t double up like regular bread. However, it does achieve some height during baking. It’s also much easier to digest.
It’s often made with milk, sparkling water, or yogurt. These give it a recognizable, slightly sour taste.
Pogacha tastes best on the day it’s made, but after it rests for 30-60 minutes. After you bake it I urge you to smell it. You will never forget that warm, homey, welcoming aroma.
Ingredients
Flour: White flour is preferred, but you’re welcome to experiment. (Here's a corn flour bread idea.)
Yogurt: Sub plain yogurt with Greek, but stir in a little water to get a fluid consistency. Alternatively, 50/50 kefir to yogurt ratio works too.
Egg: Optional. However, it helps form a richer, more tender dough while binding ingredients.
Baking soda and baking powder: These are often used interchangeably in some Balkan bread dishes. However, today’s recipe uses both to aid the taste. (For differences between the two take a look at the Pro Tip below.)
Instructions
Instructions on how to make pogacha bread.
- Combine dry ingredients. Shake.
- Add wet ingredients. Knead with spatula.
- Knead with hand.
- Transfer to pan. Punch with fist. Pierce with fork.
- Bake.
- Cool.
Kneading: If kneading by hand, knead at least 7-10 minutes. You'll get a round soft but not sticky dough ball. The longer you knead, the less sticky it'll be. Add a little more flour if necessary, but no more than a couple of ounces. (Using a stand-alone mixer? Follow its directions to get a soft dough ball.)
Punching: Once you transfer the dough ball to the pan punch it to flatten it. The punches are supposed to be light, done with just enough strength to spread the dough around the pan.
Piercing: After punching the dough, pierce it several times with a fork. Keep the holes shallow. This step helps the airflow nicely during baking.
Size: Leave a little bit of space between the dough and pan walls to allow the dough to grow while baking.
Waiting: It's best to wrap it in a kitchen towel and wait at least 20-30 minutes before eating pogacha. For the best taste smear butter over pogacha immediately after taking it out and before wrapping it up.
Expert Tips
Here’s how baking powder and baking soda differ.
Baking soda:
Baking soda is a base mineral. This compound is used in households for everything from baking to cleaning. It also goes by bicarb soda and soda bicarbonate.
Coupled with something acidic, plus a liquid, baking soda acts as a leavening agent. It lends a slightly sour taste to recipes.
Baking powder:
Baking powder is a combination of baking soda plus an acid. Because it already has acid in its composition, it only needs something liquid to act as a leavening agent.
In addition, the baking powder works in two ways. It first helps the dough rise at the beginning, and again when it is exposed to warmth (like baking or frying). It tastes neutral.
How to use baking soda instead of baking powder in a recipe?
Use ⅓ of the baking powder volume and double up the amount of vinegar or lemon juice to activate it.
For example: if a recipe asks for 1 teaspoon of baking powder, you can use ⅓ teaspoon of baking soda and ⅔ teaspoon of lemon juice instead.
How to use baking powder instead of baking soda in a recipe?
Use 3x the amount of baking soda.
For example: if a recipe asks for 1 teaspoon of baking soda, use 3 teaspoons of baking powder. Since baking powder has acid in its constitution, acids are unnecessary.
How to use baking soda AND baking powder together, and why?
Some recipes (like our yeast-free yogurt pogacha) require both baking soda and baking powder. This is done to achieve a slightly tangy taste and a nice brown color while baking.
In this case baking powder amount should be at least double that of baking soda.
More Carb Recipes
Thoughts?
If you make today's Pogacha and like it, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5-star) rating. This will help others find the recipe more easily!
You can also leave a comment, I read EVERY one! Finally, if IG is more your thing, consider tagging us @balkanlunchbox.
Prijatno and bon appetit!
Pogacha (Pogača): Traditional Balkan Bread (Yeast Free, W/ Yogurt)
Ingredients
- 18-20 ounces white flour
- ½ tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 7 ounces plain yogurt
- 3.5 ounces milk
- Oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir or shake. Heat oven to 495°F/ 250°C.
- Add egg, milk and yogurt. Work the ingredients first with a wooden spatula as long as you can.
- Take over with your hand and work continuously until you get one smooth ball (about 7-10 minutes). The dough should be soft but not sticky.*
- Transfer the ball into a (9 inch/ 23cm in diameter) oiled round pan. Flatten the dough evenly with your fist as you lightly punch it on all sides until evenly distributed in the pan. Take a fork and stab the bread on the surface several times.
- Lower oven temperature to 400°F/200°C. Bake pogacha 35 to 40 minutes, turning the pan halfway.* If it blushes too much, cover with foil.
- Take the bread out, wrap in a clean kitchen towel and leave to cool for 35-40 minutes.
Azra says
Hey Aida,
Happy belated birthday and congratulation on the well written posts ;).
Cheers to many more recipes,videos and stories to come...:)
Aida says
Thanks Azra! 🙂
Kristina Stojinovic says
Super recept, probala bi napraviti, kad bi znala koliko je brasna i mleka?
Hvala i ljep pozdrav
Kristina
Aida says
Kristina,
Pogledajte nas YT kanal za recepte na nasem jeziku.
Debbie says
Are there green chili's i this? Looks like something small but I can't make it out
Aida says
No there aren't, but I'd be curious to find out how the bread would turn out with them in it. If you do it, do let me know!
Jovana says
Napravila! Odlična! Hvala za recept
Aida says
Super Jovana, hvala sto ste javili! <3
Brit says
Love your recipes! What size and type of pan do you use for this?
Aida says
Thanks Brit and welcome!
Here I used a 9-inch (about 23cm) in diameter round pan, but you can use a square one also. I just like pogacha round, don't know why.
Pat says
I haven't had pogacha since my grandmother died in 1974. It reminds me of visiting her house, she always made it round. Thank you so much for this recipe, I'll make it this weekend.
Aida says
Pat,
I'm glad if the recipe can bring you some comforting memories. Let me know how you liked it.
Best,
Aida
Katie Tahirovic says
Can Kefir be used in place of the Greek yogurt?
Aida says
We didn't try, but if you give it a shot let us know.
Katie Tahirovic says
I mixed it about 50/50 with Greek Yogurt and it was perfect! Making it again tonight!
Besa says
Such a good recipe! I make it time and time again! Had to leave a comment! Delicious!
Aida says
Thank you Besa, so glad you like the recipe <3
Renata says
Hi! Can you use a square glass pan? Or what other types of pans can you use? I have an oval le crusset. Not a ton of choices over here.
How does a different pan impact baking temp and time?
Thank you!
Jaime says
Was wondering the same!
Aida says
Hi Jaime and Renata,
This comment ran under the radar!
Yes, absolutely, use a square pan, or an oval le crusset. Doing a round to square conversion, it looks like a 7 or 8 inch square pan will work, not sure what size oval. There are online conversion calculators you can use to figure it out. Glassware is fine too.
As far as le crusset and baking time, we haven't tried so we don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. Look at the video though, and see what pogacha should look like after baking, and then make sure that yours is about the same. Don't worry about the time as much as the looks.
Overall though, the pan type is not as important as making sure all the ingredients are accounted for.
Jovan O says
Thank you for a great recipe!! Just wondering about the oil, how much oil should we use and when to add?
Aida says
Jovan,
our pleasure! Oil is needed just to grease the pan. Two or three tablespoons should be enough.
Happy cooking!
Natalie says
Thank you for this recipe. I will make it today. My Baka made round pogaca that baked up thin and very chewy, browned on bottom and pale on top, poked with a fork and salted. I never knew the recipe, but I feel sure it did not use yeast, egg or any leaveners. I have been searching for a recipe close to that. Do you know of any versions that would produce such a result?
Aida says
Natalie,
try this recipe out and let us know if it's close to your grandma's.
Happy Cooking!
Kathy Banjavcic says
Brings me back to childhood when my Ujak lived with us.
You forgot one crucial step: cutting off the top, cutting into squares and pouring on the bacon and fat lol
Mmmmm 🙂
Aida says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for your comment 🫶