This months challenge was hosted by Becky from Fraxknits, who challenged us to make a polenta loaf; a yeasted bread using polenta in place of some of the flour. Becky said that the addition of polenta makes the bread fantastic for toasting giving it lots of crunch.
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Polenta Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 50 g polenta
- 300 ml lukewarm water
- 15 g fresh yeast
- 1/2 tsp clear honey
- 225 g white bread flour
- 25 g butter
- 3 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
For the topping:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp pine nuts (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Lightly grease a baking sheet. Mix the polenta and 250ml of the water together in a pan and slowly bring to the boil, stirring continuously with a large wooden spoon. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, or until just warm.
- In a small bowl, mix the yeast with the remaining water and honey until creamy/frothy (depending on the yeast being fresh/dry). Sift 115g of the flour into a larger bowl. Gradually beat in the yeast mixture, then gradually stir in the polenta mixture to combine. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl with lightly oiled cling film and leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it has doubled in bulk.
- Melt the butter in a small pan add the pine nuts and cook over a medium heat, stirring, until the pale and golden. Set aside to cool.
- Add the remaining flour and salt to the polenta dough and mix to a soft dough. Knead in the pine nuts cooked in butter (and the butter). Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with lightly oiled cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
- Knock back (punch down) and turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into two equal pieces and roll each piece into a fat sausage about 38 cm/15 inches long. Plait (braid) together the two pieces and place on the baking sheet. Cover with lightly oiled cling film and leave in a warm place for 45 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 200 C/ 400 F/ Gas Mark 6.
- Mix the egg yolk and water and brush over the loaf. Sprinkle with the pine nuts and bake for 30 minutes or until golden and sounding hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Modifications: I shaped the loaf last thing in the evening and popped it into the fridge overnight for the last rise, so I could bake the bread for breakfst in the morning.  This worked well and I remember doing exactly the same thing for the brioche that was last month’s challenge.  I also left off the egg glaze as I far prefer my bread without it. The dough was quite sticky and needed a good handful of extra flour at the first kneading.
It was delicious hot from the oven spread with melting butter, the bread was, surprisingly, very white and also very soft.    The loaf being the perfect size for 2 for 2 day’s breakfast.   I will be making this one again, possibly without the pinenuts, or by adding some parmesan and/or herbs.
My thanks to Becky for a great challenge, that I would have never have thought of cooking for myself without being prompted.
claire
It was a great challenge, glad you enjoyed it too.
Johanna GGG
delicious loaf – I need to make me some bread soon – thanks for the reminder!
Sally
What a good idea about putting the dough in the fridge for breakfast baking.
torviewtoronto
that looks a delicious bread – and also so soft.
the caked crusader
That looks amazing – and I love the addition of pine nuts!
clairetweet
Like that idea of the last cold prove. Might try that.
sarah
I, too, think it’s ingenious to let the bread rest in the fridge overnight. My biggest problem with bread is the timing, so maybe that idea would help!
Becky
I love the idea of putting it overnight in the fridge for a long slow rise. That must have added a great deal to the flavour and also I shall be shamelessly stealing your idea of doing a parmesan/herb loaf or perhaps a tomato and olive one.
Hannah
What a wonderful combination of flavors and textures for a loaf of bread! I’ve recently begun to develop and appreciation for pine nuts, so this sounds perfect for me. :)
Candace
Love the idea of the added pinenuts!