Do you always need sugar when using yeast?!


Question: I was given a recipe the other day for a flat bread that called for one teaspoon of yeast along with the 4 teaspoons of baking powder. The wierd part is that it did not call for any sugar. Isnt sugar what causes the yeast to come alive or to grow?
I have searched the recipe several times and have not found any others that cal for yeast, any opinions?


Answers: I was given a recipe the other day for a flat bread that called for one teaspoon of yeast along with the 4 teaspoons of baking powder. The wierd part is that it did not call for any sugar. Isnt sugar what causes the yeast to come alive or to grow?
I have searched the recipe several times and have not found any others that cal for yeast, any opinions?

Most recipes that call for using regular yeast (not rapid rise yeast) also call for adding a teaspoon of sugar to the liquid when you "bloom" the yeast. This is done to feed the yeast and start them producing carbon dioxide and multiplying. Also, it's a way of checking to make sure the yeast is still active.

However, you don't always need to use sugar, especially rapid rise yeast. Dry yeast are little pellets with "food" dried along with the yeast. As long as you can start dissolving the yeast pellets it will do it's job without added sugar.

Reading your description, it is interesting that your recipe calls for yeast and baking powder. It sounds like the recipe is using a shortcut by using baking powder instead of letting the yeast do it's job in leavening the bread.

What kind of flat bread?
Foccacia and Pita typically have yeast.

Crepes and Tortillas are usually steam leavened. Although some tortilla recipes call for baking powder which is not traditional.

Pancakes typically use baking powder and baking soda.

If ti was more of a "quick bread" (using baking powder) then maybe the yeast was there just for the flavor.

Yeast does not have to live on sugar alone. Honey, milk, or molasses all work. Sourdough starter lives off flour and water, but something sweet makes it take off and get to work.

No there is sugar in other ingredients in the recipe such as flour. Using sugar gives it a jump start . Your dough just takes longer to rise and how high do you want a dough to be for flat bread?

Go back to science class.
Starches are complex sugars, the yeast can grow on the flour. But... you are making FLAT bread all you want the yeast for is a little air. not like a loaf o white.

nopee. sometimes you use salt.

no You dont need sugar while you use yeast. As in pizza we use yeast but not sugar. sometim,e you have to leave the dough in yeast for a while or atleast for 30 minutes it will arise. IF it does not then just cover the dough with piece of plain cloth and put it in oven. I mean dont turn on the oven just keep the dough in ofed oven it will stimulate the yeast.
Good luck

in flat bread, you dont want it to rise. that would defeat the point.





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