Sweet Milk Coated Bread

Naan-e-Shirmal - Sweet Milk Coated Bread

Merry Christmas everyone. It's late and Christmas Eve has come and gone, but I thought I'd get this last blog in before I get some shut eye ;)

It's been a busy couple of days bashing out these posts but I've loved it, I hope you've enjoyed reading them and hopefully attempting some of the recipes.

This post is about a scrumptious and very soft bread called Naan-e-Shirmal, which is a sweet milk coated bread. This can be made plain but I've added saffron, ground pistachios, almonds, cardamom and rose petals as it gives it the wow factor for Christmas and cause I love these flavours, so any excuse!

I'm going to enjoy this bread in Christmas morning with a good cup of coffee.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups strong white bread flour

1/4 tsp saffron

7g yeast

3 tbsp granulated sugar

2 egg yolks

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1 tbsp butter or margarine

1 tbsp milk (for brushing over the bread once baked)

For the filling

4 tbsp granulated sugar

100g ground pistachio

100g almond flakes

1 tbsp ground rose petals

2 tsp ground cardamom

For the garnish

1 tbsp ground pistachio

1tbsp pistachio slivers

1 tbsp ground almonds

1/2 tsp cardamom

pinch rose petals

3 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup water

1tsp rosewater

Note: Oven 150°C or Gas Mark 2 for 40 minutes

Method

Step 1

• Add the yeast to a bowl of luke warm milk

• Add the sugar

Note: If not fast action yeast then cover the top and leave for 10 minutes until the yeast has activated

• Add the saffron, flour, one egg yolk, salt and cardamom

• Mix until all the ingredients bind well and become a smooth dough

• Knead well for 10 minutes

• Set aside and cover with cling film for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size

Step 2

• Once the dough has risen knead again for 5 minutes

• Add the filling mixture and knead into the bread

• Set aside for 30 minutes and allow to rise again

Step 3

• Pre-heat the oven at 150°C or Gas Mark 2

• Once the bread has risen again brush with egg yolk

• Place in the oven for 40 mins at 150°C or Gas Mark 2

Step 4

• Remove the bread from the oven

• while hot lightly brush the bread with milk

For the garnish

Step 1

• In a saucepan add 1/2 cup of water and 1 tsp rosewater

• Add the sugar and allow to reduce to a slightly sticky syrup

• Brush over the bread

Step 2

• Mix the ground pistachio, almonds and cardamom together

• Sprinkle the mixture over the bread

• Finally sprinkle the rose petals and pistachio slivers over the bread

Enjoy this lovely bread any time of the day with either Persian tea or coffee :) Noosh-e-Jaan :) I'll be enjoying this Christmas morning :)

Naan-e-Shirmal - Sweet Milk Coated Bread