Rēwena bread
Rēwena parāoa: Māori potato-starter sourdough
Rēwena parāoa is the bread of Māori marae and family kitchens across Aotearoa New Zealand, served at hui and tangi with boil-up, butter and golden syrup. Its rise comes from a fermented potato starter, the bug, which families keep going for years. The loaf has a soft, close crumb with a mild tang and a crusty top. Making the bug takes 2–3 days, so plan ahead. A common mistake is using hot potato water, which kills the starter; it must be lukewarm. Chef's tip: feed the bug with a little potato water and flour each time you bake and it will keep in the fridge for months.
- Total time
- 100 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the potato bug (starter)
- 1 floury potatopeeled and sliced
- 1 cup water
- 4 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 tsp sugar
For the bread
- 1 ⅓ lb strong white bread flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 cup lukewarm water
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Boil 1 floury potato in 1 cup water until very soft. Mash it in its water and leave until just lukewarm, about 86°F.
20 minStep 2: Stir in 4 ½ oz plain flour and 1 tsp sugar to a thick paste in a clean jar or bowl. Cover loosely with a cloth.
5 minStep 3: Leave in a warm spot for 2–3 days, stirring once a day, until bubbly and smelling pleasantly sour and yeasty.
1440 minStep 4: Mix 1 ⅓ lb strong white bread flour, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda. Add the bug and 1 cup lukewarm water and mix to a soft dough. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and springy.
10 minStep 5: Shape into a round, set it in a greased 23 cm cake tin or casserole, cover and leave in a warm place for 3–4 hours, until risen by half.
240 minStep 6: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Bake for 50–60 minutes until deep golden and hollow-sounding underneath. Cool on a rack before slicing.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does rēwena bread take?
- About 100 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 floury potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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