Walnut & Sesame Bread

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Bread has been around for centuries. It is said that the first flatbreads were made in Egypt where the original grinding stone was invented around 8000 BC. If you think about it, bread is one type of food that is possibly eaten by every race, culture and nation across the globe. There are hundreds of varieties of breads out there and I’m not certain that in a lifetime any one of us will get to try them all. And yet, wouldn't it be fun to try? ;)

Some bread fun facts:
  • Murphy's Law dictates that buttered bread will always land buttered-side down.
  • Scandinavian traditions hold that if a boy and girl eat from the same loaf, they are bound to fall in love.
  • One bread superstition is that if you put a piece of bread in a baby's cradle, it will keep away disease.
  • Legend has it that whoever eats the last piece of bread has to kiss the cook.
On this blog, I will list out the recipes of the many kinds of bread I attempt. All of the recipes have been collected by reading books, watching videos and perusing the Internet. Of course, they will all have my own personal flavour!


Method:
  1. In a food processor or dough maker, mix together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
  2. Slowly add the milk and butter.
  3. Once the dough is formed, remove and place on a lightly floured surface.
  4. Knead for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should not be sticky. If it is, add a little more flour.
  5. Meanwhile, grease a big bowl with oil. Any oil will do… vegetable, olive, etc.
  6. Place the ball of dough in the center of the bowl and cover it with a damp cloth. A tea towel should be fine.
  7. Set it in a warm, draught-free place to rise. This can take anytime from 45 minutes to an hour. Ideally, the dough should have doubled in size.
  8. After the time has lapsed and the dough has nicely risen, remove the cloth and punch down the middle of the dough with your fist.
  9. Now place it on a lightly floured surface.
  10. Once again, knead the dough until it feels elastic and has returned to its original size. This should take around 2 to 3 minutes.
  11. Preheat your oven to 200°C.
  12. Grease a loaf pan with oil lightly. Once again, it could be any oil or even butter.
  13. Gently roll out the dough to a square. Maybe around 25 to 30 cm wide.
  14. Now sprinkle the crushed walnuts and sesame seeds.
  15. Fold the dough and knead until all the seeds and nuts are spread throughout the dough.
  16. Shape it into a loaf and place it in the greased pan.
  17. Once again, cover it with a damp tea towel and set aside in a warm, draught-free place to rise for another 30 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
  18. Remove the tea cloth and gently brush the top of the loaf with some milk.
  19. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
  20. Bake it in the oven for around 20 to 35 minutes. This depends on how hot your oven is, as every oven is different.
  21. Take it out and place it on a wire rack to cool down.
  22. The way to know if it is done is, turn the loaf upside down and knock the bottom. If it sounds hollow, it is done. If not, place it back in the oven for a few more minutes.


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