Savanna Sunrise Bread

by Rod
(Dallas, TX)

Teff is a nutritious, iron-rich grain that is native to the Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa. While Teff is often used to make injera, a flatbread, this quick bread recipe includes Teff flour in a gently sweetened traditional soda bread.

Imagine having recently departed from your comfortable city life and now awaken to a sunrise breakfast on your travel tour's first day in the region's majestic savanna. The flavors and textures of this earthy bread quietly announce that nature will be your true host today.

The small plate displaying two giraffes had quietly waited upon a dusty mantle for years until its showtime today. Mango was featured with the recipe's second attempt, but the third and final attempt found that tangelo slices were the ideal accompaniment.

The white dollop is nutmeg butter (the recipe appears in the Note on this page: http://www.breadexperience.com/oat-bran-cocobana-bread.html).

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups Teff flour
• 2/3 cup unbleached flour
• 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup dark raisins
• 3 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk *

* Warmed to room temperature.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.


2. In a small bowl, soak sunflower seeds in warm water.
3. Lightly coat the center of a baking sheet with butter, forming a rounded rectangle. Dust with bread flour then tap sheet to discard excess flour.
4. In a large bowl, add Teff flour, unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir well to combine.
5. In a small bowl, combine drained sunflower seeds, raisins, melted butter and brown sugar. Stir to evenly distribute butter and sugar.
6. Spread sunflower seed mixture over flour mixture and stir to combine.
7. Pour buttermilk evenly over flour mixture and stir just until combined.
8. Lightly press dough into 2 round loaves and place side-by-side on the baking sheet. Slice a shallow “X” on top of each rounded loaf.
9. Reduce oven to 400 degrees and bake 30 to 35 minutes.

Notes:

1. This bread may also be served when chilled. Try it with cream cheese or nut butters. Fresh fruit is always good accompaniment.
2. Other dried fruit options: currants, figs, dates, cranberries, cherries.