Are you looking for information on how to make scrumptious Portuguese Easter Bread? Read our guide below for some amazing tips and ideas for making this delicious Easter bread…
Portugese Easter Bread: Making Easter Special
Easter is eagerly awaited in all households and Easter delicacies are the perfect gift for friends and family. Amongst various Easter traditional treats you should try your hand at making Portuguese Easter Bread. Although there are various recipes available you would find the recipe mentioned below very useful to get your desired Easter bread as perfect as possible. Please note that you would need a mixer to prepare this bread as the dough can be too tough to be handled without one.
Preparing Portugese Easter Bread
Take a bowl and put ¼ cup warm water (114 degree Fahrenheit), ½ cup mashed boiled potatoes and 1 tbsp of sugar in it. Leave this for around seven minutes till it starts becoming bubbly. Put a packet of yeast in the remaining ¼ cup milk and set aside. Add 1 cup of sugar, 1 tsp fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup warm milk with the yeast (114 degree Fahrenheit), 3 large eggs kept at room temperature (put one at a time) and 2 cups of flour. Using the paddle attachment of your mixer, blend all the ingredients well.
Now change the attachment to the dough hook and add ¼ cup butter and 1¾ cup of flour to the mixture. Mix all at a low speed till perfectly mixed. Now keep adding flour slowly till the mixture leaves the sides of the mixing bowl and clings to the dough hook and feels springy. Your total flour requirement may vary from 4 cups to 6 cups.
Make a ball of the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Knead it for around 3 to 5 minutes to get the desired smoothness. When you notice that you have fine elastic dough you are done. Place the dough in a pre-oiled bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Keep the bowl for 2 to 3 hours in a warm place for letting the dough double up in size.
When doubled turn the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead again. Divide the dough to two parts and shape as desired. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover your dough with a cloth and again let it rise for another 45 minutes. Meanwhile pre-heat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
Before placing the dough in the oven brush it with a mixture prepared from mixing 2 tbsp water with 1 egg. This would ensure your loaf gets a glossy glaze. Bake for around 30 to 45 minutes or till it is golden brown in color. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Unique features of Portugese Easter Bread
Portuguese Easter Bread is soft, fresh and savored by people of all ages. This yummy Easter bread would add variety to your Easter spread with its unique taste. This bread has a rich heritage of being introduced even before Christianity was established.
