Sardines Round Cake from Island Vis - Viška pogača

This is a great recipe form Croatian island Vis, one of the finest Mediterranean specialties. "Viška pogača" is a simple combination of two layers of bread dough and sardines filling within.

Recipe:
1 1/2 cup whole wealth flour
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbls olive oil
2 tsp dry east
1 1/2 – 2 cups water


In a large bowl combine all ingredients gradually adding water. Add just enough water to make a pizza-like dough. Form it into a ball and live it to rise, covered in the owen, or at a warm place. Let it rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.
In the meantime prepare filling.


Ingredients:
1 can sardines
5 tbls olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
3 tbls tomato puree
1 tsp molasses or honey
1 tbls fresh parsley, chopped
5 large black olives chopped (you can omit this part or put green olives)


In a small bowl mix all filling ingredients, mashing them together.
Heat the owen at 400 F. Put the raised dough on a well floured surface. Divide the dough in half and form a ball of each. Grease a large baking pan and sprinkle it with flour. Take one ball of dough and flatten it with your hands, starting at the center and working outwards, use your fingertips to press the dough. Use your palm to flatten the edge of the dough where it is thicker. Carefully transfer the dough to the backing pan. Never mind if you get a hole or two, it will be tasty anyway. Evenly spoon the sardines filling on it. Flatten another ball of dough and cover the cake. Bake the cake for 10 – 12 minutes. It should get nice golden color, brownish at the edges. Put baked cake to cool a little bit on a wooden surface and serve warm with arugula salad. This is my favorite combination, but you can serve it with other salads and side dishes, but don’t forget a glass of red wine!