Spicy Cajun Plait

Definitely one for the weekend this as it does take a few hours to make (although actual time in which you actively need to do anything is much shorter). I made this in my bread maker but its reasonably straightforward to make dough without one so I've included alternative instructions for making it by a hand. We ate this still warm from the oven, dipping it in salsa and sour cream dips, and slathering it with cream cheese. It was awesome.

Makes 1 plaited loaf

1 1/2 tsp easy blend dried yeast
500g white flour
30ml vegetable oil
290ml warm water (not boiling)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar

If making the dough in a bread maker, put all the ingredients into the bread maker in the following order: yeast, flour, oregano and spices, black pepper, salt, sugar, water, oil, tomato paste. Set the bread maker to the 'dough' cycle, and switch on. Then skip to step 6!

If making the dough by hand, follow steps 1 - 5 below:

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
2. Make a well in the centre of the flour mix, add the sugar, followed by the yeast, and pour over the warm water, tomato paste, and vegetable oil. Leave for 15 minutes.
3. Stir with a wooden spoon and bring together to form a soft dough.
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface; flour your hands to prevent it sticking to them, and knead for around 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough back into the bowl, and leave in a warm place to rise for approximately one hour, until doubled in size.

6. Remove the dough from the bread maker/bowl, place onto a clean work surface, and with floured hands, knead it again for five minutes.

7. Divide the dough into three roughly equal pieces. For each piece, do the following:

a) Knead into a smooth ball

b) Roll out so it is relatively flat and long

c) Roll inwards so as to make it into a sausage shape, and place on a greased tray.

Once you've done this for each one, it should look something like this:

9. Plait the three sausage shapes, pressing the ends together and topping with flour to seal. Leave to rise in a warm place for around 30 minutes.

 

 10. Bake in a preheated oven 200 degrees C, for 30-35 minutes, and transfer to a wire rack to cool.