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Thursday, September 26, 2013

V ~ Vegan Braided Bread

Event: Blogging Marathon #32
Theme: Baking Recipe #5

Priya keeps posting such versatile recipes that one couldn't stop from bookmarking them. When I thought of baking something for the letter V, I honestly didn't have to think twice before checking my list of "recipes to try" from her blog. An added incentive was that I was planning to bake a braided bread from a long time. Leaving apart the rising and baking periods, the bread can be made in a short time. The braiding part is easy once you get a hang of it. Instead of one big one, I baked 4 mini braided loaves.

Ingredients: 
3 cups bread flour / all purpose flour ( I used both flours)
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp cumin seeds
1 Tbsp dried herb or 2 Tbsp fresh herb of your choice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 cup luke warm water (I have to add 3 Tbsp more.)
1/4 cup olive oil 


Method:
1. Place sugar, salt, yeast in a bowl and add luke warm water. Let it sit in a warm place for about 5 minutes. The yeast solution would have turned foamy by that time. 


2. Meanwhile, mix together the flour, cumin, sesame seeds and the herbs you are using in a mixing bowl.
3. Add the yeast solution and the oil to the flour bowl. Combine everything and work with it to form a stiff dough. 


4. Place the dough in a well greased bowl, cover and let it sit in a warm place for 2 hours. The volume of the dough would increase by the time.


5. Punch the dough and divide it into 3 portions. Roll and shape them into balls. Further roll each ball into a strand / rope. 
Instead of one big braided bread, I was planning to make 4 mini ones. And so I divided the dough into 12 portions and proceeded with the recipe. 

6. Braid the strands together and seal at the ends. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350 deg F and keep a greased baking tray ready. 







7. Place the braided loaf / loaves on the greased baking sheet. Brush it with some oil / milk if not looking for a vegan version.


8. Bake them for 25-30 minutes until the crust turns brown. Let them cool for few minutes before serving.

My experience:
* The bread didn't turn brown even after baking much longer than the time mentioned and the bread started to go on to the harder side. I then increased the temperature to 375 deg F and then it browned in very short time.
* My oven is relatively new and am wondering whether the bread needs to be baked at 375 deg F. I have to check with Priya about this. Or I think the bread initially can be baked at 375 deg F and later reduced to 350 deg F.



Logo courtesy : Preeti

Comments

10 comments:

Lifewithspices said...

bfully made bread..

Hari Chandana said...

woww.. awesome job :)

Srivalli said...

That's absolutely stunning bread!..the first picture looks out of the world...I am going to try..did you use both the flour in equal portion?..

Unknown said...

wow pretty braids and flavorful bread looks superb dear :) very nice recipe choice :)

Chef Mireille said...

spiced bread looks super delicious

Harini R said...

Artfully done. I also need to try my hand at braided breads!

vaishali sabnani said...

the braided bread looks nice and moist..good one!

Rajani S said...

I liked the step by step pictures of the bread.

Pavani said...

Perfectly made braided bread.. Love your step by step pics.

veena said...

wow!!!Perfectly baked braided bread!!