Apr 10, 20203 min read

Braided Bread and Flower Bread with Cheese & Pesto

Flower Petals shaped Bread and Braided Bread with Cheese and Pesto Filling 1:1 wwf:apf

Braided Bread & Flower Bread with Pesto & Cheese filling ready

Braided Bread & Flower Bread (using Tangzhong method)-2

For the Tangzhong

1.All purpose flour -2 tbsps

Milk-3 tbsps

Water-2 tbsps

In a small saucepan mix all the above ingredients without lumps.Cook this on medium heat stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and leaves the bottom of the pan .Add 2 tbsps of butter and set aside to cool.

2.Milk-1/2 cup(lukewarm)

Instant/Dry Yeast-1 1/2 tsp

Sugar-1 tsp

Add the sugar and yeast to the lukewarm milk and allow it to rise (10-15 minutes).

3.All purpose flour-1cup & 2 tbsps

Wheat flour-1 cup

(Note:If you are trying Bread For the first time then use only all purpose flour only..ie;2 cups apf )

Salt-1 tsp

Milk powder-2 tbsps

Egg-1

Olive oil-2 tbsps

Combine the above ingredients and add the Tangzhong- butter mixture and the risen yeast mixture to this & mix until everything comes together.U can add 1-2 tbsps of lukewarm water if needed.Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes. This will give the flour a chance to absorb the liquid & enables easy kneading.

After 20 minutes,knead the dough with your hands/mixer to make a smooth somewhat sticky dough(around 7-10 minutes of kneading).Shape it into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl.Cover and set aside in a warm place for the first rise.(1-1 1/2 hours). The dough should double in size.

Punch down the risen dough and divide into 2 parts.

4.Pesto suce-recipie given below

Cheddar/Mozzarella cheese grated-3/4 cup[as reqd]

Place one part on a floured surface & roll it into a very thin rectangle.Spread a thin layer of the pesto sauce on top of the dough, leaving the edges.Sprinkle some grated cheese over this.Now roll the dough tightly into a log from the long side.

With a sharp knife cut the log into half lengthwise leaving 1" on top.Cross the two halves to get X shape.Now braid this by placing the right half over the left one,keeping the cutside/layers facing up.Repeat till u reach the end.Pinch the ends together.Now carefully transfer this to an oiled parchment paper on a tray.Gently join the two ends of the braided dough together to resemble a large wreath,keeping the cut layers facing up.Cover this & keep aside to rise for the second time.

The dough will take almost 30-40 minutes to double. Once doubled,brush with egg or milk wash lightly and sprinkle some sesame seeds over it.Preheat the oven at 180 C & bake the doubled braided bread for 17-20 minutes or top is browned & the cheese melts& starts to brown. . Mine took around 17 minutes.Once baked,remove to the cake rack & brush the top immediately with butter.Allow it to cool slightly.Serve warm.

5.Mozzarella/Cheddar cheese(grated)-1/2 cup

Pesto sauce-as required

With the second part I made flower petals Roll the dough into a big rectangle 1/8” thickness.Using a circle cutter cut out circles and apply a thin coat of pesto sauce on each circle and sprinkle some grated cheese over it.Gently fold the ends to make semicircle.Now join the two edges and pinch them to make flower petals.Arrange the petals on a baking tray lined with parchment paper to resemble a big flower.

6.Milk-1 tbsp

sugar powder-1tsp

Egg-1

Water-1 tbsp

Beat the egg and water together lightly.If using milk & sugar,mix together till sugar is dissolved.Use this to brush the breads

White sesame seeds-1-2 tbsps

After u have arranged the petals brush them with the egg/milk wash and sprinkle the sesame seeds over it and set aside to rise for another 20-30 minutes.

(If its cold weather u can preheat ur oven for 10 minutes around 160 C and off the oven and keep the baking trays inside it to rise for the second time]

After 20- 30 minutes brush again with the egg/milk wash & bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 180 C or top is golden..Mine took exactly 17 minutes. This may vary depending on the type of oven you use.Remove from oven & immediately brush the top with butter/olive oil.Transfer to a cake rack & allow to cool slightly.Serve warm.

For the Pesto sauce

7.Almonds-1/4 cup

Garlic-4[big]

Pepper powder-1/2 tsp

Green Chillies-6

Corriander leaves-3/4 cup

Salt to taste

Olive oil-1/4 cup

In a mixie ground this together except oil for a few minutes.Add olive oil,2 tbsps at a time & blend until u get a smooth paste.Adjust seasonings.