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Pompe à l'huile
Olive oil orange flatbread
Pompe à l'huile (gibassier): Provençal olive oil and orange-blossom flatbread for Christmas Eve
The pompe à l'huile is the centrepiece of the thirteen desserts of Christmas Eve in Provence, a flat, slashed sweet bread made with olive oil and scented with orange-blossom water. Tradition says it must be torn by hand, never cut, or you will be ruined in the year to come, and it is eaten after the gros souper on 24 December. The common mistake is using a harsh, peppery olive oil, which overpowers it. Chef's tip: use a mild, fruity olive oil and brush more over the warm loaf.
- Total time
- 170 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast
- ½ cup mild olive oilplus extra to brush
- 3 tbsp orange-blossom water
- ¾ cup lukewarm water
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix the 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour, 3 ½ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp salt, ¼ oz instant dried yeast and 1 orange zest. Add the ½ cup mild olive oil, 3 tbsp orange-blossom water and ¾ cup lukewarm water and knead for 10 minutes into a soft, smooth dough.
10 minStep 2: Cover and rise for 1½–2 hours until doubled.
90 minStep 3: Press the dough on a lined tray into a 30 cm oval about 1.5 cm thick. With a sharp knife cut 8–10 slits right through, and pull them open with your fingers.
10 minStep 4: Cover and prove for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan).
30 minStep 5: Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden. Brush with a little oil straight away and cool. Tear, don't cut.
20 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pompe à l'huile take?
- About 170 minutes in total: 150 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Christmas