White Bread Plait

It is easy to make your own plaited crusty appetizing white bread at home. The glazing on the bread provides both a shiny and crisp surface along with the seeds.

Ingredients

700 strong white flour

2 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1 packet instant yeast (7g)

450 ml lukewarm water

2 tbls olive oil

1 egg

Poppy seeds

Sesame seeds

Method

Place flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a mixing bowl and mix evenly. Mix lukewarm water and oil in a jug. Add liquid to the flour mixture and combine to dough. Dust the work surface with flour and turn the dough out. Knead the dough for approx. 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with cling wrap. Allow resting for 1 hour or until double in size. Turn the dough out on the work surface and divide into six even pieces approx. 200 g each. Form each piece into long sausage shapes. Plait three pieces of dough to form a long straight shape. Plait the other three pieces and form a round circle. Place the breads on a baking tray. Whisk the egg with 2 tablespoons of water and brush on top of the breads. Sprinkle the breads with sesame and poppy seeds. Allow proofing for approx. 50 minutes. Preheat oven to 200ºC normal bake. Bake in the oven for approx. 35 minutes. Place loaves on a wire rack and allow cooling for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

Note: Make the plait by making three long sausage shape dough pieces. Line three dough strings side by side and pinch the top ends together. Place the left string into the middle, and then place the right string into the middle. Continue braiding until the end and pinch bottom ends together.