Let's Break Bread together, Part II

In our last post we realized that there is too much to learn about bread to put in one installment. So we are back with more bread news. Today we are talking about two words: Unleavened and leavened.

Unleavened bread contains many of the same ingredients as leavened bread, with one big difference. That is, no leavening agent. Unleavened bread can be crispy like crackers, or they can be soft and pliable like tortillas. Other examples of unleavened bread are:

1. Piadina, a specialty bread from the Romagna region of Italy, typically made from flour, water and olive il.
2. Lefse, a Norwegian flatbread made with potatoes as the essential ingredient.  Potatoes make for a wetter and softer dough.  Works well rolled up with either savory or sweet additions.
3. Roti and Chapati are synonymous and are from India.  Both are thin and round and depending on where in India they are being made, they are grilled or baked in various ways.
4. Gorditas are like tortillas but are thicker and more sturdy.  They are made on a griddle.
5. Lavash, also known as cracker bread. great for dips and spreads, but can also be soft and pliable to be used as a bread for roll-ups.

Lefse

Leavened Bread is bread that contains a leavening agent. The most common leavening agent for bread is yeast. But there are others, like beer, baking powder and baking soda. Leavening simple means that the agent allows for air pockets to form which makes the bread rise, giving it a sponge-like texture. There are dozens of examples of leavened bread, such as French bread, sandwich bread. and muffins.  But there are lots and lots of other examples of leavened bread:

• Anpan is a Japanese sweet bread filled with bean paste.
• Bagel is a dense, ring-shaped bread originating in Eastern Europe.
• Bara Brith is also called speckled bread from Wales.
• Biscuits from the Southern United States are light and fluffy.
• Borodinsky from Russia, is a dark, rye, sourdough yeast bread.
• Chick Pea Bread from Albania uses yeast made from chick peas.
• Marraqueta from Chili is shaped into lobed-shaped buns.
• Pandesal from the Philippines is a sweet yeast bread.
• Soda Bread from Ireland has baking soda and buttermilk to create leavening.
• Vienna Bread from Austria made from cereal pressed yeast.

Anpan

We certainly have not exhausted all the possibilities of the different kinds of unleavened and leavened breads found all around the world.  That would take some time.  We want to make the point that bread, in whatever form it takes, is a part of human life.  If you want to find out more about other breads, just click here.

Today we offer you an most delicious recipe for leavened bread.  Namely, the Native American Fry Bread.  

Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Cole Slaw Fried Bread

Here is what you need:

*Bread Dough (see below for bread information)

Cooking Oil

Guacamole

Cole Slaw

Buffalo Chicken

Diced Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Here is what you do: 

Cut bread dough into 6 pieces.  Heat oil in frying pan.  About 1/2" of oil in the pan.   Flatten each piece of bread dough to about the size of a small tortilla.   Dough can be springy so you will need to keep reshaping it until you fry it.   Once oil is hot, place as many pieces of dough that will fit.  When the dough is brown on one side flip to brown the other side.  Transfer to paper toweling to remove excess oil.

Once the bread is fried it is time to assemble.  Take one of the fried bread and spread guacamole of the bread.  For this recipe I actually left the avocado plain.   I just smashed the avocado until I could spread it on the bread.  The plain avocado was a nice balance against the Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Cole Slaw.

Next layer is the Blue Cheese Cole Slaw:

Blue Cheese Cole Slaw Recipe:

Shred half a head of cabbage.   I did about 4 cups.

1/2 cup shredded onion

1/2 cup shredded carrots

3 -4 Tablespoons chives

Sauce:

2 Cups Mayonnaise

1/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/4 Cup Blue Cheese

3 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar

1 -2 Tablespoons Sugar

Salt and Pepper to taste

You want to taste the sauce before you add to the other ingredients about.  This really is a taste preference.  If you like a stronger vinegar taste or you like it a bit sweater you can make your adjustments at this point.

Mix everything together.  Taste again.  I always end up adding more carrots for looks or onions for more taste.

Depending on how many fried breads you are serving will depend on how much of the Cole Slaw you will make into Blue Cheese Cole Slaw.   About a 2 cups of the cole slaw will make between 2 -3 fried bread...depending on how big you make the fried bread.  For 2 cups of cole slaw I used 1/4 cup blue cheese.   Again we have to go back to taste.  If you really like blue cheese you may want to add more.  Though I am not a huge blue cheese fan it is a must for this dish so make sure you can taste the blue cheese in the cole slaw.

Next layer is buffalo chicken.

Next layer is tomatoes.

Next layer is sour cream.

* The bread you use it completely up to you.  Because I am not the baker of the 2 Prickly Pears I cheat and buy frozen.  The dough you need will be equal to one loaf of bread.  Easy to find it in the freezer section of the store or the bakery.   If you make homemade bread then use that.  You can use white, wheat, multi grain... whatever you prefer.

The nice thing about this recipe is you can make it however you want.  Because I can not eat lettuce I use the avocado but you can substitute any of the veggies for ones you like.   I can tell you mine never turn out the same twice.  The key to this recipe is your imagination.  And yes I just made this recipe up this week because I was hungry for something spicy and different...

Now, go out and make something good!