Serbian Flatbread (Lepinja)
White bread flour, fresh yeast and sugar come together in this vegetarian — 65 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and large pot. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Crumble the fresh yeast into a bowl with the sugar and the warm milk (around 38C, just above body temperature), stir to dissolve and let it stand for about 10 minutes until it turns frothy.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt, then make a well in the centre and pour in the activated yeast mixture, the warm water and the oil.
- Mix to a shaggy dough, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead firmly for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth, soft and elastic.
- Return the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until roughly doubled in size.
- Knock back the dough and divide it into 4 equal pieces, shaping each into a ball and then pressing or rolling into a round disc about 1.5 cm thick; cover and let them prove for a further 20 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 220C and place a baking tray inside to get hot. Score a shallow cross-hatch on top of each round and dust lightly with flour.
- Bake the flatbreads on the preheated tray for 12 to 15 minutes until puffed and golden, then wrap in a clean towel as they cool to keep the crust soft and serve warm.
You'll use: Oven · Large pot · Whisk · Baking tray
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
Tips & common questions
How long does Serbian Flatbread (Lepinja) take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Serbian Flatbread (Lepinja) vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Serbian Flatbread (Lepinja) is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Komplet lepinja - Lepinja sa sve.jpg (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.