Herb Batter Bread ~ Quick and Easy
As shared from the kitchen of Once Upon a Plate by Mari
www.onceuponaplate1.com
Makes one 8" or 9" round cake pan (or equivalent)
This is a recipe that dates back to at least 1970, I first began making it while in high school. I cannot tell you the number of times I have made it since then! It's an easy, friendly dough to work with that produces a good little bread that smells wonderful as it bakes, and it's delicious warm, or toasted the next day. You can use any herbs that you like; fresh or dried, (or a combination of herbs that pleases you.) I sometimes make this with half whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour.
You can mix this by hand, or use your stand mixer.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons butter or margarine
1 package yeast, (or a scant 1 tablespoon dry yeast)
1/2 cup warm water
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
1 tablespoon dried/instant minced onion
1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried herbs, or more (your choice; dill, rosemary, etc.)
OR 1 to 3 teaspoons minced fresh herbs
Melted butter
coarse salt
Method:
Heat milk in a small pan over medium heat until small bubbles form around edge of pan
(don't boil), remove from heat and stir in sugar until dissolved. Cool to lukewarm.
In a large bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer), dissolve yeast in the warm water. Add cooled milk mixture. Stir flour into yeast mixture. Add dried/instant minced onions and dill or
other herbs, stir all together until well blended, about 2 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until tripled in bulk; about 45 minutes. Stir down and beat vigorously about 30 seconds. Turn into a greased 8-inch cake pan, or 9-inch pie pan. * Bake in a 350ºF oven center rack about 1 hour. Brush top crust with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with salt (salt is optional).
* Once batter is in the pan, before putting in the oven, I always allow it to rise another 45 minutes. This step is NOT necessary, but I like the texture the extra rise produces.
Just wait until you smell this bread baking in your own kitchen ~ YUM. Enjoy!