This month’s challenge for the Fresh From the Oven bread baking group was a courgette cluster bread, chosen by Sally from My Custard Pie.
Somehow I have not taken part for a few months, which is a shame, as I love the group and the challenges. This month I had to, as I had met Sally (who had been my sofa surfer for Food Blogger Connect) and I am currently allotment sitting for Katie, and so have a small mountain of courgettes.
It was an excellent month to return to the challenge. The bread was delicious, soft, fluffy and yeasty, a recipe that I shall be returning to, perhaps using different vegetables? We ate the rolls brimming with the pulled pork I made recently.
Apologies for the photos, as well as baking bread I had been tasting the new Magners specials (more on them later).
- 450 g courgettes grated coarsely
- Salt for degorging and for the dough
- 675 g strong white bread flour
- 2 sachets of easy-blend/fast-action yeast or 14g instant dried yeast
- 3 tablespoons parmesan grated
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Tepid water - about 200ml
- Milk to glaze
- Sesame seeds to sprinkle
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Place the courgettes in a colander, sprinkle lightly with salt. Allow the juices to drain for about half-an-hour, then rinse well in cold water and pat dry.
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If using instant yeast whisk it into 90 ml of the tepid water until frothy and dissolved. Mix the flour, yeast, parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some black pepper together in a bowl, then stir in the olive oil and courgettes. Add some more water until the mixture comes together as a firm, soft dough. I did this and the kneading in my KitchenAid with the dough hook.
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If kneading by hand, turn the dough onto a lightly floured board or work surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a bowl and put the dough into rise, covered with cling film or a cloth, for about one hour or until doubled in size.
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Knock back the dough in the bowl (punch the air out of it) and then turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead again briefly until smooth.
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Divide the dough into eight equal pieces and roll to shape into even balls. Lightly grease and line the base of a 23 cm cake tin with baking parchment. Place one ball of dough in the middle and all the others around it.
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Brush the tops of rolls with milk and sprinkle over some sesame seeds. Cover again with oiled cling film or a cloth and leave to prove until doubled in size and the balls touch each other - about 30 minutes.
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Put into a preheated oven at 200 C for about 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked. Cool on a wire rack. Tear each roll off to eat as a bun.
I used a mix of white and malted grain flours. These freeze well, defrost then wrap in foil and reheat in the oven, or slice before freezing and toast.
Thanks to Sally for a fab challenge, and I am looking forward to see what August will bring.
This looks really lovely and has just reminded me that I completely forgot about FFTO this month!
looks delicious – I have made a zucchini yeasted bread before a loved it but this looks far more fluffy and in need of fresh yellow butter! (actually most fresh bread is in need of good butter)
A great month to join back in! They were tasty little rolls; I think they would also be good with a carrot and parsnip mixture – perhaps when it gets a bit cooler.
These look just perfect, a lovely, lovely accompaniment to your Pulled Pork. It must be a LOT of fun allotment-sitting!
Thanks for taking part this month, sounds like it was the perfect challenge for you.
Cider & baking has often lead to my downfall. It looks great. Thanks for the tips on freezing.
So glad you took part and enjoyed this challenge (and not just because of the cider-drinking). Good idea to mix the flours. Cheers :)