Nan-e Barbari

Step 1

For the dough: Mix the olive oil, yeast, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 cups warm water in a large bowl. Add the flour 1 cup at a time and mix using a wooden spoon until the dough is fully incorporated and there are no bits of flour visible, 5 to 10 minutes. The dough will be sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, place in a draft-free spot and let the dough rise for 1 hour.

Step 2

Uncover the dough, transfer it to a well-floured surface and dust the top with 1 tablespoon flour. Flip the dough using a bench scraper and use your hands to shape it into a ball. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for 20 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 4

For the glaze: While the oven is heating, mix the flour, baking soda and 1/2 cup water in a small pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and reaches the consistency of ketchup, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Transfer the dough to a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spoon the glaze over the dough and use your hands to spread the dough into a roughly 12-by-16-inch oval or rectangle that's about 1 inch thick. Using your fingertips, make rows of indentations on the dough lengthwise to form lines. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and nigella seeds.

Step 6

Bake until the bread is fully cooked and golden on the top, about 25 minutes. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel for 10 minutes before serving.