Christmas Savoury Wreath
Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
⅓ cup sugar
2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon benne (white sesame) seeds
2 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs or whole herb sprigs, such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, and/or sage
Directions :
Step 1:
In a small saucepan heat the milk and sugar over medium heat until just warm (40°C to 45°C). Pour into a large bowl. Stir in yeast and let it stand 5 minutes or until foamy.
Step 2:
Add the butter, salt, 2 eggs, and 1 cup flour to milk mixture. Beat with a mixer on low until smooth. Beat in as much of the remaining flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can with a wooden spoon.
Step 3:
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead in remaining flour until dough is soft and smooth, but still a little sticky (about 4 minutes).
Step 4:
Butter a large bowl. Add dough to the bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover and let stand until double in size (about 1 hour).
Step 5:
Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Use a Chris’ dips terracotta pot as guide and draw a circle on the paper. Turn the paper over.
Step 6:
Punch dough down. Turn out onto the floured surface. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into 6 even pieces. Pinch off 4 even pieces from each dough piece, shaping each into a ball (24 total balls). Arrange 8 balls about 1 1/2cm from the circle on the paper. Arrange 16 balls about 1 1/2cm from the first row of dough balls. Cover loosely with a towel and let stand until dough is nearly doubled (about 30 minutes).
Step 7:
Preheat oven to 180°C. Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. Gently brush tops of the dough balls with egg mixture. Sprinkle tops of the dough balls with seeds and herbs, or arrange whole herbs on dough. Brush whole herbs with egg mixture. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or room temperature.
Tip:
Reuse our terracotta pots - if you have a Chris’ terracotta pot from previous use, instead of drawing a circle and tracing the pot, simply place the dough balls around the empty pot and baking it with your wreath to ensure a perfect fit!