Bolo do Caco (Madeiran Sweet Potato Flatbread with Garlic Butter)
In short: Round, soft Madeiran flatbread made with sweet potato, cooked on a griddle and served split open with garlic butter. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 1 h 20 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Bolo do caco is the sweet potato flatbread of Madeira, traditionally cooked on a hot stone slab called a caco. The dough is soft and slightly sweet, and the bread comes off the heat golden outside and fluffy within. It is split and spread with garlic butter, and often served with grilled meat skewers or filled as a sandwich with steak. A heavy pan or griddle gives a good home version, and the breads are best eaten warm.
Instructions
- Boil the sweet potato for 15 minutes until very tender. Drain, mash until smooth and cool to lukewarm.
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the mash, olive oil and enough lukewarm water to form a soft dough, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth.
- Cover and leave for 1 hour until doubled. Divide into 6 pieces, roll into balls and flatten each into a disc about 12 cm (5 in) wide and 1.5 cm (1/2 in) thick. Rest for 20 minutes.
- Heat a dry heavy pan or griddle over medium heat. Cook the discs 2 or 3 at a time for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden brown with darker spots and cooked through.
- Mix the butter with the garlic, parsley and salt.
- Split the warm breads, spread the cut sides with garlic butter and serve at once.
Tips
- Use orange-fleshed sweet potato for the best color and flavor, and cool the mash before mixing so the heat does not harm the yeast.
- Cook on medium heat so the breads brown slowly and cook through. Too much heat gives a dark outside and a doughy center.
Questions and answers
Can I make bolo do caco ahead of time?
Yes. Cooled breads keep for 2 days in a bag and freeze for 1 month. Warm them in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 5 minutes and add fresh garlic butter.
What do you serve with bolo do caco?
Garlic butter is the classic topping, and many people fill the bread with grilled steak or sausage. It also goes well with soups.
Can I make it without sweet potato?
Mashed regular potato works, but the bread will be paler and less sweet. The sweet potato gives it its character.
How long does it take to make Bolo do Caco (Madeiran Sweet Potato Flatbread with Garlic Butter)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bolo do Caco (Madeiran Sweet Potato Flatbread with Garlic Butter)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 60 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
