Guyanese plait bread
Plait bread: the braided white loaf of Guyanese bakeries
A glossy three-strand plait sits on the table in many Guyanese homes on Christmas morning and for Old Year's Night, next to garlic pork, pepperpot and black cake, and bakeries in Georgetown sell it every day for sandwiches. It is a soft, close-crumbed white bread, just a little sweet, that tears into pillowy pieces and soaks up pepperpot gravy beautifully. The common slip is adding too much flour while kneading: the dough should feel slightly tacky, or the loaf bakes up dry and dense. Chef's tip: let the shaped plait prove until a finger pressed into the side leaves a dent that springs back slowly; that is the moment to bake.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour
- ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast1 sachet
- 1 oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ cup whole milklukewarm
- ¾ cup waterlukewarm
- 1 ⅜ oz buttersoftened, plus 1 tbsp melted for brushing
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Combine 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 1 oz caster sugar and 1 tsp salt. Pour in ¾ cup whole milk and ¾ cup water, then add most of 1 ⅜ oz butter and mix to a shaggy dough.
Step 2: Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic; a small piece should stretch thin enough to see light through without tearing.
10 minStep 3: Cover and leave in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
60 minStep 4: Knock back and divide into three equal pieces. Roll each into a rope about 40 cm long, thicker in the middle than at the ends.
Step 5: Lay the ropes side by side, pinch the tops together and plait loosely, then pinch the bottom and tuck both ends under. Lift onto a lined tray.
Step 6: Cover and prove for 40–45 minutes until puffy. Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan).
45 minStep 7: Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown all over and hollow-sounding underneath. Brush with the rest of 1 ⅜ oz butter as soon as it comes out, for a soft, shiny crust.
30 minStep 8: Cool for at least 30 minutes before tearing or slicing, or the crumb will be gummy.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does guyanese plait bread take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of strong white bread flour?
- Plain flour, same amount (the dough will be softer and rise a little less).
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
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