Saffron Tea Loaf - Chef In You

Saffron Tea Loaf by DK on Oct 5, 2007

When I got to know about this month's 'Think Spice' Event, I was glad and overjoyed. Oh ,not because I know multitude of saffron recipes ( i wish! ) but cos of this one recipe i had noted down which was gathering dust for a long time. I cut down couple of ingredients,halved the recipe since it was my first try and then sat and worried to why in god's name did i take snaps - cos i was sure I was not going to send this entry. But out from the Oven, the loaf was not at all bad! For a first try, and for making some baking changes ( u know how results vary so much even with a small change in baking! ), it was yummy and aromatic!...

It tasted v good with tea...Of course its tea loaf! what was i thinking..Now to the recipe! This makes 2 loaves or one large loaf. You can halve the recipe for one loaf.

Cook time: 30 min to 1 hour
Prep time: 1 to 2 hours
Yields: Makes one 2 pound Loaf

Ingredients

Generous pinch of Saffron
3 cups Lukewarm milk
2 tbsp butter
8 cups all-purpose bread flour
2 pkts fast -rising dried yeast
3 tbsp superfine sugar
6 cardamom pods,split open and seeds extracted
scant 3/4 cup raisins
2 tbsp Honey
1 egg,beaten

Method

Crush saffron into a cup containing little of the warm milk and leave it to infuse for 5 min.

2. Rub the butter into the flour,mix yeast,sugar,cardamom seeds (or powder ) and raisins.

Beat the remaining milk with honey and egg, then mix this into flour along with saffron milk and strands, to form a firm dough.

4. Turn out the dough and knead it on a lightly floured surface for 5 min.

Return the dough to the mixing bowl,cover with oiled plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size.

Preheat Oven 400F.Grease 2 pound loaf pan.

7. Turn the dough out to a floured surface,punch down,knead for 3 min,

8. then shape into fat roll and fit in the pan. Cover with sheet of oiled plastic wrap

9. and let it stand in a warm place until the dough begins to rise again

10.

Bake the loaf for 25 min until golden brown and firm on top. Turn onto a wire rack, and as it cools brush it with honey

11. Cut it into slices

12. and serve it with hot hot tea :)

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Recipe Reference

recipe courtesy from 500 fabulous cakes and more

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23 Comments

By suma on Aug 31, 2010

Oh this looks real delicious,I would love to try the eggless version. Saffron in bread sounds divine.. How much of active dry yeast can i use here?

By Pratima on Apr 18, 2010

the loaf looks amazing .....just a quick question though what would be the replacement for egg in this recipe??

Mostly 1 egg in a recipe can be skipped. In this particular recipe just to make sure the qty of the liquid is enough to match that of the dry you can substitute the egg with 1/4 cup of any other liquid you want - water, vegetable oil, milk etc - all will work :) --DK

By Siri on Jun 28, 2008

the loaf is beaauuttiifffulll Dhivs..love love the last pic..truly pro!! no wonder u are my 'baking guru'!!! :))

Hugs,
Siri

By Kalai on Jan 28, 2008

Wait a sec while I pick my jaw up off the floor. Dhivya, that looks so delicious... I want some!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jyostna on Nov 2, 2007

Hmmm.....Dhivi, After hundreds of questions......i succesfully baked my first bread....It rose 3times after complete baking.It tasted soooooo good....Surya's desire was to eat home made bread which i fullfilled y'day.I did my own modifications to ur recipi...added whole wheat Aata along with all purpose flour and added walnuts along with raisins....And i felt 4 cups was little over for two of us...next time i might use only 2 cups...U wouldnt believe...i kept on browsing urs and worldbread.com website previous night and early morning i get up from the bed and start baking....I will surely send u pics.....Surya made heart shape bread sticks too with the same dough adding little olive oil,garlic onion powder.Thankkkssssssssss a lot Dhivi......Iam just waiting for these breads(banana and saffron tea loaf) to finish so that i can make ur almond bread....Thanks a looooooooottttttttt Sweety....:)Anyways...bahut badaaa comment hogaya.....I will keep updating u on these yaar.

By Dhivya Karthik on Oct 8, 2007

Hi Steamykitchen, thanks for ur comments and a wonderful mail :)

Hi Madhu - thanks for your comments

hi Kalva - it sure did. You can add more sugar for you like little sweetness. It was all crusty on the top and soft in the middle.

Thanks Suganya,Viji,Pooja,Happycook,asha, kumudha,apple

Hi Sunita- thanks for taking in my entry..

Thanks lavanya,cynthia,sharmi,padma

Thanks Mocha - I wouldnt say ti was melt in the mouth kind although I think it wud be close to that if using egg. Otherwise u r bingo when it comes to the smell..our home was plethora of smells - cardamom and saffron - how good is that! :)

By Padma on Oct 8, 2007

That tea loaf looks so pretty Dhivya! You did a great job with those pictorial demonstration. First time to your blog and simply loving it! Added to my feed

By Sharmi on Oct 7, 2007

very pretty looking tea loaf. would love to try out sometime.

By Mocha on Oct 7, 2007

The loaf looks great. Warm & melt in your mouth kind. It would smelt good when you baked it right?

By Cynthia on Oct 7, 2007

Oh my goodness, Dhivya, this loaf is a must-try! You've done an excellent job of presenting it to us.

By Laavanya on Oct 6, 2007

The loaf looks absolutely cute Dhivya... yummy recipe.

By sunita on Oct 6, 2007

That's one gorgeous looking loaf indeed...thanks for sending it over to grace my blog :)

By Apple on Oct 6, 2007

've come here thru FBD..Saffron Tea Loaf looks amazing with wonderful pictures..

By Kumudha on Oct 6, 2007

The bread looks delicious!
And the pictures are wonderful.

By Pooja V on Oct 6, 2007

Flavourful....yummy bread!!

By Asha on Oct 6, 2007

How gorgeous is that? Excellent:))

By Happy cook on Oct 6, 2007

They just look absolutley super delicious.
And the pic is so very nice

By Vcuisine on Oct 6, 2007

A rich bread Dhivya. Very nice explanation. Viji

By Suganya on Oct 6, 2007

That is the beauty of yeasted breads. Less fat and more flavour. I am going to try this bread soon. Thx :)

By Kalva on Oct 5, 2007

Looks delicious!! Definitely tastes heavenly!

By Madhu on Oct 5, 2007

Nice step by step presentation..and tea loaf looks delicious too.

By Anonymous on Oct 5, 2007

Ultimate - this word of mine has a MAJOR far reachine effect in this UNIVERSE! Wow!

Wonderful bread though, and great pictures.

Kodiak

PS: Ultimate! (Far reaching X 2 now).

By SteamyKitchen on Oct 5, 2007

The loaf is simply beautiful!