It is funny how there are certain things which disengage us very easily and others we never tire of. One such thing, for me, is slicing a loaf of bread. No matter how many times I have done it before, I get excited the next time I get to cut the loaf into equal slices. I get nervous every time I approach the loaf with my intimidating bread knife in hand, wondering if this time the loaf would slice well or go all mushy on me.
The same feeling enveloped me as I was baking this hard dough loaf. It was a little more scary because the name said hard dough and I was hoping, for the first time, not to get an airy loaf. This daily bread of Jamaica was surprisingly brought to them by Chinese immigrants. Food history and evolution is definitely one of the most fascinating subjects.
Country – Jamaica
Recipe adapted from here
Makes an 8″ loaf
WHAT WE NEED
All purpose flour 200 gms
Whole wheat flour 25 gms
Instant yeast 1/2 tsp
Sugar 1 tbsp
Lukewarm Water 1/2 cup
Cold butter, unsalted 18 gms
Salt 1/2 tsp
WHAT TO DO
- In a large bowl, mix the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, sugar and salt
- Add the butter and mix with your fingertips to form a sand-like grainy mixture
- Add the water and mix well
- Knead for 12-15 minutes and set aside the dough in a greased bowl and keep covered for 40 minutes
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle
- Grease an 8″ loaf pan
- Roll up the dough as tightly as possible and shape into a loaf
- Transfer it to the loaf pan and set aside for 40 minutes
- Preheat the oven to 190C
- Bake the loaf for 30-40 minutes or till the top is nicely brown
- It should sound hollow when tapped at the bottom
- Let the loaf be in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool
- Slice it after completely cooled
- Serve with jam, butter or use it to make your favorite sandwich
- Enjoy!
This is my post for the Mega Marathon under the letter ‘J’.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 75
Bread Therapy 
Looks so nice & airy too!
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Thanks Meghala
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I’m always eager to see your posts wondering which amazing type of bread you are going to bake up next! Looks perfect.
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You made my day! Thank you
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The bread has a beautiful crumb Sowmya. Lovely pick.
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Thanks Harini
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Looks like you are becoming a pro in bread baking. How prefect and gorgeous this bread looks, well done Sowmya.
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Thank you Priya! Am blushing now 😊
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ha let me about food history and evolution… It’s very fascinating naa. The bread looks perfect.
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Thank you. Would love to pour over books discovering how each dish evolved!
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The number of breads I have baked are far less that I can count, still I can relate to your feeling..I simply get excited thinking a bread loaf is ready!..your loaf has turned out so good Sowmya..must have tasted so yummy..and the slices look so neat as well..:)
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That loaf looks perfect and despite the name of the bread, the texture is great. I would love to slather it with some butter and enjoy this bread.
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That bread has a beautiful crumb. Your research skills are absolutely amazing. Nice find for the letter J.
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It’s the same feeling for me even cutting the cake is same. The hard dough bread looks great and of course nicely sliced too.
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Lovely bread and you have sliced it perfectly.. Heard bread became light in your hands!!
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