Zopf - Swiss Sunday bread

Name: Zopf - Swiss Sunday bread
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 500g loaf
Ingredients: 500g plain flour; 1 1/2 tsp salt; 2 tsp honey; 2 tbsp butter, soft; 2 1/2 tsp dry yeast; 1 cup milk, lukewarm; One egg yolk, lightly beaten

October 19, 2011

Anita Spragg's Swiss bread, or zopf.Marco Del Grande

Time:1-2 hoursMakes:500g loaf

Having grown up in a bakery in Switzerland, our homecook hero, Anita Spragg knows a thing or two about bread.

Ingredients

500g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp honey
2 tbsp butter, soft
2 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1 cup milk, lukewarm
One egg yolk, lightly beaten

Method

Put all the ingredients except milk and egg yolk into bowl. Rub between flat hands until butter lumps disappear.
Add milk, mix well and knead well with hands. When there are no more loose pieces take dough out of bowl, whack it onto a breadboard and knead again for 10-15 minutes. The dough should be smooth - add more flour if it is too sticky.
Put the dough in a bowl, cover with clingwrap and a tea towel and place on a saucepan filled with hot water to rest for 30-60 minutes. The dough will double in size.
Plait or shape the dough into desired patterns, but do not over-knead. Place dough on a tray lined with baking paper. Brush the egg yolk onto the dough.
Put the tray onto the lower rack of a hot oven (220C). Bake for 20-30 minutes for smaller shapes and 30-45 minutes for larger shapes.
The bread should be golden brown and firm when tapped on the underside.

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