Honey Bread From Ethiopia Yermarina Yewotet Dabo Recipes

HONEY BREAD FROM ETHIOPIA - YERMARINA YEWOTET DABO

Steps:

• In a small, shallow bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm water.
• Let the mixture stand for 2-3 minutes and then stir to dissolve the yeast completely.
• Set the bowl in a warm, draft-free place for approximately 5 minutes or until the yeast bubbles up and the mixture almost doubles in volume.
• Combine the egg, honey, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a deep bowl. Mix together with a wire whisk or spoon and add the yeast mixture, milk and 4 tablespoons of the melted butter, beating until the ingredients are well blended.
• Now stir in the flour, ½ a cup at a time, using only as much as is necessary to make a dough that can be gathered into a soft ball.
• When the dough becomes too stiff to stir easily, blend in the additional flour with your fingers.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough by folding it end to end, then pressing it down and pushing it forward several times with the heel of your hand.
• Rub your hands with a little melted butter if the dough sticks to the board or your fingers, but do not use any extra flour lest the dough becomes stiff and hard.
• Continue kneading for approximately 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a large, lightly buttered bowl. Drape a kitchen towel over the bowl and set in a warm, draft-free spot for approximately 1 hour or until the dough rises and doubles in bulk.
• With a pastry brush, spread the remaining melted butter evenly over the bottom and sides of a 3-quart baking dish at least 3 inches deep.
• Punch the dough down with a single blow of your fist, and then knead it again for 1-2 minutes. Shape the dough roughly into a round and place it in the buttered baking dish, pressing it down into the corners so that it covers the bottom of the dish completely.
• Return the dough to the warm, draft-free place for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in bulk and risen at least as high as the top rim of the dish.
• Pre-heat the oven to 300o F and bake the bread in the middle of the oven for 50-60 minutes, until the top is crusty and light golden brown.
• Turn the honey bread out of the pan onto a cake rack to cool.
• Serve the Honey Bread while still somewhat warm, or allow to cool completely.

ETHIOPIAN SPICED HONEY BREAD

Steps:

• Method.
• In a small bowl, stir together the yeast and 1/4 cup warm water. Set for about 10 minutes to let the yeastproof.
• In a large bowl, beat together the egg, honey, spices and salt until smooth. Stir in the milk and melted butter.
• Stir in the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing to form a soft, smooth dough. Do not add all of the flour if the dough gets too stiff. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
• Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes to form a smooth, elastic dough.
• Place the dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the dough again to a lightly floured work surface and punch down the dough and knead for about 1 minute. Form the dough into a round and place on an oiled baking sheet. Allow to rise again another 30-45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325°F Place bread on baking sheet in the oven and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour till bread is lightly browned and sounds hollow when you tap on it. Remove and cool somewhat before slicing.

ETHIOPIAN MILK AND HONEY BREAD (YEMARINA YEWOTET DABO)

Steps:

• Mixing and First Rise
• Bloom the instant yeast for 2-3 minutes by combining it in a small bowl with the warm water and sugar.
• In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients.
• In a small bowl, mix the slightly warmed milk, honey, and egg.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients along with the yeast-sugar-water and mix thoroughly. Cover and let the dough sit about 15 minutes to develop the the gluten.
• Pour the oil over the dough and work it in by squishing and kneading for several minutes. Cover and let the dough rest another 15 minutes.
• Do 1-2 rounds of stretching and folding with a 15-minute rest in between.
• Cover and let the dough rise for another 1.5-2 hours or until the dough has doubled. In a warm summer kitchen, my dough rose for about 2 hours total from initial mixing to doubled. In a cooler kitchen, the dough may need longer.
• Shaping and Second Rise
• Wash and dry your banana leaves.
• Line a 9" springform pan with the leaves, making sure you have excess for wrapping over the top of the dough. (See the photo gallery below)
• Lightly oil the leaves on all parts that will touch the dough.
• Gently scrape the dough out of your bowl and into the pan. With damp fingertips, press the dough to gently de-gas it and spread it evenly in the pan. Wrap the leaves over the top of the dough, not tightly on top but with no exposed dough.
• Let the dough rise again for 1-1.5 hours until the leaves/dough are cresting over the top edge of the pan.
• Baking
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Place the pan on the middle rack and bake for 55 minutes. Check on the bread partway through the bake and carefully re-cover it with the leaves if some pop off from the oven spring. Bread in a heavier/thicker pan may need longer to bake. Aim for an internal temp over 200F.
• After baking, pop open the springform latch and let the bread cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before removing it from the pan and peeling off the leaves.
• Serve warm if desired, for breakfast, snack, or dessert.