Sizzling Tastebuds, Yeasted Breads

Braided Garlic Bread for #Breadbakers | Easy Braided recipes

Sometimes, its a lack of motivation that keeps me from doing thing I have wanted to do. Before baking breads at home, it was easy to buy loaves from outside and make sandwiches (hey ! we still do that :-)) . But taming the yeast took me long enough – from brick hard breads to under baked to over burnt, it has been a long journey. (and am still learning with each bake !)

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Being part of #Breadbakers group has been a blessing to look at yeasted breads in a totally new light way – although breads (other than flatbreads/ stuffed breads with wholewheat) isnt our staple diet, the challenges so far has been a wonderful journey to learn new methods with unfamiliar ingredients ,  ogling at a few masterpiece creations, and learning a little more about sourdough breads, crumb and crust textures.

I still struggle with the basic loaf bread (perhaps I haven’t challenged myself enough), but our host Gayatri (a baker and a close friend is someone I have admired for over 4 years now – we have met twice as part of another group !) has asked us to make braided breads for June. Trust me, I just hopped into the challenge, and even typed my yet-to-be-baked bread as my entry. And then the jitters started.

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And then I HAD to do it – there was no way I couldn’t back out from a challenge I had entered into 🙂 Thanks to the push, here’s my basic bread dough transformed into a beautiful garlic braided bread – yes the finish could be better, but am glad I could make it. Garlic is one of our most preferred flavours in bakes – as is evident in roasted garlic focaccia , Cheese garlic bombs (both incidentally baked for Breadbakers) & Coriander Garlic Pull apart rolls.


It was easier than shaping the perfect loaf, so I shall definitely be making more braided breads – it makes for such an elegant centrepiece at the table. The girls devoured it one early Sunday morning, and the next time I shall serve it with some soup.

For now, this is a beautiful bread and thanks to #breadbakers, I have one more to-do bake ticked off my list 🙂

Prep time : 20 min, Rise time : 1 hour + 45 mins ; Bake time : 22 mins.

Ingredients:

  • Basic pizza dough or a basic bread dough  – 1 portion (about 350 gms)
  • Garlic pods – 8 to 10 – crushed
  • Olive oil – 1 TBSP
  • Salt and chilli flakes – 1 tsp

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How to make:

  1. I used a frozen portion of my bread dough, Thaw the frozen dough to room temperature.
  2. But if you want to make a fresh batch, please do so. If using fresh dough, let it proof once till doubled. Once done, punch down a bit & proceed to the next step.
  3. Heat the oil a bit and immediately add the crushed garlic. Switch off. Add a dash of chilli flakes and salt and let the flavours seep into the oil.
  4. Knead once on a lightly floured surface.
  5. Cut out three equal portions of the dough.
  6. Pre heat oven to 375 F / 190 C.  Prepare a baking tray with parchment paper.
  7. Roll the portions of the dough into thick ropes.
  8. Place the ropes held together at the top on the baking pan directly.
  9. Braid the bread as shown in the pictures.
  10. lightly brush the bread with the flavoured oil.
  11. Cover and let it rise again for about 45 mins till slightly plump
  12. Towards the end of the second rise, preheat oven.
  13. Once again, brush the braided bread with the entire oil and the garlic flakes. Sprinkle any seasoning if you wish {P.S – I was away from home during the 2nd rise, but my garlic-loving elder girl helped me dribble more than a generous portion of garlic and helped it rise in the oven, next time around, I am going to train her how to pre-heat and even bake this !! :p }
  14. Bake for 20-22 mins (I baked for 22 mins + broiled for 3 mins)
  15. Let it cool a bit and slowly cut into pieces and serve.

This month’s Bread Baker’s theme is Braided Breads and is hosted by Gayathri Kumar of Gayathri’s Cook Spot Here is the collection of all the beautiful braided breads from our team.


#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to [email protected].

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20 Comments

  1. A Day in the Life on the Farm

    Good for you Kalyani for challenging yourself each month. I think your loaf is gorgeous and I would have loved to join your girls in polishing it off for breakfast.

  2. Gayathri Kumar

    This is one flavourful loaf Kalyani. And you have done an amazing job in braiding it.

  3. Don't you love it when you're "forced' to try something new and then it turns out even better than expected? Gorgeous loaf!

    • oh yes, Karen. It certainly did force me to think beyond what I thought were my capabilities ! Thank you 🙂

  4. Eileen (Baking Sense)

    Good for you for challenging yourself. Your bread looks great and sounds tasty. I agree that it's easier to make a pretty braided bread than round loaf.

    • Agree- its way easier and pretty too 🙂 and am sure to be baking many more braided loaves soon ! bookmarking so many from this edition of Breadbakers !

  5. Sharanya palanisshami

    Garlic bread are my favourite kalyani. Braided garlic bread has come out well..

  6. Hi Kalyani, The best in us comes out when there is a need. This loaf is amazing and the flavours sound fantastic. I am sure you all must have enjoyed the braided loaf.

  7. Mayuri Patel

    Trust me Kalyani, as you go along you'll learn so much from the other members and I find them very encouraging and helpful. The braided bread looks delicious.

  8. Sneha's Recipe

    This garlic braid looks so beautiful!

  9. That is a lovely braided bread Kalyani. Simple and delicious.

  10. This braid is so beautiful Kal!!!You are becoming a pro:)

  11. Chef Mireille

    awesome braid, especially if this is a first try!

  12. Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen

    I can smell the bread here kalyani, looks delicious, a perfect combo with a warm bowl of soup!

  13. All That's Left Are The Crumbs

    I love being pushed out of my comfort zone too. You did an amazing job on your braided loaf.

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