Who would have thought that the simple staple ingredients of flour, water and a bit of yeast will turn out products that today are known all over the world? Whether it is called Naan in India, Damper in Australia, Pretzel’s in Germany, Challah in the Jewish Communities, Frybread in the USA, Focaccia in Italy or Pão in Brazil, it remains a heavenly delight even if you enjoy it in South Africa, just plain with butter. We share our favourite and super-easy savoury and sweet bread recipes from South Africa.
Bread is one of the oldest human-made foods, has been significant since the dawn of agriculture, and plays an essential role in religious rituals. Bread has inspired people over the world to create their own versions – we are all familiar with French loaf, brioche, flatbread, bagel, panini, pitta, tortilla and so the list goes on.
Bread is a great example of what life should be like…enjoyed the best in its simplest form!
Soup Bread
Ingredients:
1 packet (50g) of dry brown-onion soup
500g self-raising flour
500ml buttermilk
Cheese
Red pepper
Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Mix the self-raising flour and soup powder into a mixing bowl. Add the buttermilk and mix it into a batter.
Spray a bread pan with non-stick cook spray and pour the batter into the pan.
Add some grated cheese over the top and sprinkle a bit of red pepper over the cheese.
Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Beer Bread
Basic Bread Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose or cake flour
A Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
330ml room temperature beer (can substitute soda water for an alcohol-free bread)
Optional glaze: 1 egg & 2 teaspoons water, beaten
Filling Options (combine as desired):
General measurement: 1 teaspoon of dried herbs or 1 Tablespoon of fresh, chopped herbs.
Garlic (2 minced cloves)
Rosemary
Oregano
Thyme
Basil
Oregano
Chilli
Sundried tomatoes (½ cup)
Mushrooms (½ cup, fried)
Onion (½ cup, chopped)
Feta cheese (3/4 cup,crumbled)
Parmesan cheese (½ cup, finely grated)
Cheddar cheese (1 cup)
Method:
Preheat oven to 190 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and your chosen filling.
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and slowly stir in beer or soda water.
Mix until just combined. The batter should be sticky and thick.
Spread in a greased loaf pan and brush with the egg glaze if desired.
Bake until golden brown and a toothpick stuck in the centre comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool for 10 more minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Corn and Condensed milk Bread
One of our favourite bread recipes!
Ingredients:
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 can of Sweetcorn
500g self-raising flour
2 eggs
Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Take a large oven dish and mix all the ingredients together until it forms a batter.
Spray a bread pan with non-stick cook spray and pour the batter into the pan.
Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Caramel Bread
Ingredients:
1 bag bread dough
1 and half cup (375ml) fresh cream
1 cup/ 1 + 1/2 cup (250ml- 375ml)caramel sugar
Method:
Take a large oven dish and pour the fresh cream into the dish. Roll 9 balls from your bread dough and pack them in the dish so that each ball has room to swell into a bigger ball.
Empty your cup of sugar over the dish. Cover the dish with a dishcloth and allow the dough to rise into nice big bread rolls.
Bake for 40 minutes at 180 degrees.
Enjoy nice and warm.
For more bread inspiration, have a look at this pastry chef, Nadya Hassan and her delectable Summer Feast bread recipe!
Copyright Nadiya Hussain
Share your bread recipe and photos with HOMEMAKERS
There are of course hundreds of South African recipes, and we would like to share more of your recipes with the HOMEMAKERS community on our social media platforms.
If you would like to see your recipe and photo on our social media platforms, please email a detailed description with ingredients and method along with a photo to pr@homemakers-sa.co.za
