Pao Portuguese Farm Bread Recipes

PORTUGUESE FARM BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Combine the yeast, semolina flour, and water by churning 10 seconds in a large heavy-duty food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Scrape down the sides of the work bowl, re-cover, and let stand until foamy, about 15 minutes.
• 2. With the machine running, add half the all-purpose flour down the feed tube. It's easier if you pour the flour from a spouted measuring cup into a wide-mouth canning funnel inserted in the feed tube or failing that, a stiff piece of paper rolled into a cone (the opening at the bottom should be at least 1 inch across).
• 3. Using a plastic spatula, scrape the work bowl, and if necessary, redistribute the dough so that it evenly surrounds the blade - take care! Add the salt and remaining flour, distributing evenly over the dough, and churn for 10 seconds. Again scrape the work bowl and redistribute the dough.
• 4. Churn the dough for 20 seconds nonstop, shut the machine off, and let the dough rest in the sealed work bowl for 5 minutes. Now churn for another 20 seconds.
• 5. Leaving the blade in place, carefully redistribute the dough until it's of uniform thinness. Re-cover the work bowl, keeping the pusher in. Note the level of the dough in bulk, estimate what it should be when doubled in bulk, and mark that level on the side of the work bowl.
• 6. Let the dough rise in the sealed work bowl until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, lightly coat an 8-inch springform pan or 8-inch pie pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• 7. When the dough has fully doubled, pulse quickly 4 to 5 times to punch down, then churn for 20 seconds nonstop. Let the dough rest in the sealed work bowl for 5 minutes, then churn for another 20 seconds. The dough will roll into a ball and leave the sides of the work bowl reasonably clean.
• 8. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, shape into a ball, then roll in the flour to dust lightly. Place the loaf in the prepared pan, cover with a clean, dry dish towel, and set in a warm, dry spot until nearly doubled in bulk - this will take about 30 minutes.
• 9. When the dough has risen for 10 minutes, position one rack in the middle of the oven and slide a second rack in the slot just below. Place a large shallow baking pan on the lower rack - I use a 15 1/2 X 10 1/2 X 1-inch jelly roll pan - and half-fill with water. Preheat the over to 500°F.
• 10. Center the risen loaf on the middle rack and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F and continue baking until richly browned and hollow sounding when thumped, 20 to 25 minutes longer.
• 11. Remove the bread from the pan as soon as it comes from the oven, set right-side-up on a wire rack, and cool to room temperature before cutting.

PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD - PAO DOCE

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl.
• Stir in milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs, salt, margarine or butter, and 3 cups of flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle.
• Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic - about 5 minutes.
• Place in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place until it is double in size - about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough and divide in half.
• Shape each half into a round slightly flat loaf.
• Place each loaf into a well greased round 9" x 1 1/2" pan.
• Cover and let rise until double (a/b an hour).
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat 1 egg and brush over tops of loaves.
• Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
• Bake until loaves are golden brown, about 35-45 minutes.

PAO CASEIRO (PORTUGUESE HOMESTYLE BREAD)

Steps:

• 1. Mix salt into the hot water and set aside. Place flour in large bowl and add the yeast, sugar, milk, orange juice and water. Mix with a spoon until you get a consistent dough. (You can use mixer with dough hook, or your bread machine on dough cycle as well.) Place dough in large floured bowl. (If dough is very soft add extra flour.) Cover the bowl with a towel and let it rise for at least one hour until it doubles in size. Separate the dough (with flour on your hands), into two pieces (for two large loaves) or four pieces (for four small loaves). Place on a lightly floured sheet pan; let rest for 15 minutes, while you preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place in oven and bake for 30 -40 minutes until top starts to be golden. It is done if you tap the loaf and it sounds hollow. Take out of oven and cool. Serve warm with butter.