Broa (Portuguese Maize Bread)

Recipe by: Stephen Almas

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Reviews (3)

Tweaks (2)

Serves: 12
Yield: 1 loaf
Ready in: 2 hours 40 mins (2 hours Prep - 40 mins Cook)

A hearty peasant bread made with polenta, broa goes well with soup, eggs and fish.

Recipe provided by:

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Ingredients

7g (1/4 oz) dried active baking yeast
1 teaspoon caster sugar
4 tablespoons warm water (45 C)
175g (6 oz) polenta
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
225ml (8 fl oz) boiling water
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
250g (9 oz) plain flour

Preparation method

In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast and sugar over the warm water. Let stand for 2 or 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve. Set the bowl in a warm, draught-free place for 8 to 10 minutes, or until yeast doubles in volume.
Process the polenta in a blender or food processor until very fine.
In a large mixing bowl, combine polenta, salt and boiling water. Stir vigorously until smooth. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cool mixture to lukewarm.
Stir proofed yeast into the polenta mixture. Gradually add flour. Gather the dough into a ball, and place it in a greased bowl. Cover. Set it aside in a warm place for about 30 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.
With a pastry brush, coat the bottom and sides of a 23cm (9 in) pie dish with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Turn the dough out into pie dish, and cover. Let it rise in a warm place for another 30 minutes, or until it doubles in bulk again.
Bake in the middle of a preheated 180 C / Gas mark 4 oven for 40 minutes, or until top is golden. Transfer to a rack to cool.

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Nutrition

Calories 154kcal
Total Fat 3g
Saturated Fat 0.4g
Salt 297.5mg
Protein 3.6g
Sugars 0.7g

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Tweaks

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Tweak: MACKALLEN Something else:

I wasn't expecting this to be so heavy! I guess I should have figured it would be, given the amount of polenta in it. Anyway, once I got used to it, I kind of liked it. You might too, especially if you are a big fan of soup; I think it would be really good with a tomato soup. 7-2-2006: I made this again. This time I kneaded it more; it rose higher and was lighter than the last time I made it.

I wasn't expecting this to be so heavy! I guess I should have figured it would be, given the amount of polenta in it. Anyway, once I got used to it, I kind of liked it. You might too, especially if you are a big fan of soup; I think it would be really good with a tomato soup. 7-2-2006: I made this again. This time I kneaded it more; it rose higher and was lighter than the last time I made it.

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Tweak: RUBY2 Something else:

this is basically a good recipe but the instructions are a bit off. It's best if you knead the dough for a few minutes before the 1st rise, which should be about 60 to 90 minutes, not 30 as stated. The 2nd rise may take longer than 30 minutes ie 45 or 50. Rather than pulverise the polenta in the blender I used a fine polenta that I bought at the Italian shop near my house.

this is basically a good recipe but the instructions are a bit off. It's best if you knead the dough for a few minutes before the 1st rise, which should be about 60 to 90 minutes, not 30 as stated. The 2nd rise may take longer than 30 minutes ie 45 or 50. Rather than pulverise the polenta in the blender I used a fine polenta that I bought at the Italian shop near my house.

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2 users liked this tweak

›› More Reviews & comments (3)

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Review: JABBABROWN

A good basic recipe to which you can add extras like chopped chilli, peppers, sweetcorn, bacon etc. Bread is more successful if kneaded for 10-15mins prior to first rise.

A good basic recipe to which you can add extras like chopped chilli, peppers, sweetcorn, bacon etc. Bread is more successful if kneaded for 10-15mins prior to first rise.

Easy

Challenging

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 Easy
Review: MARJORIE25

We were looking for a recipie for Broa and were so glad to find one. It turned out pretty good, but it doesn't keep very well. My husband was used to broa looking darker although it does taste similar to what he remembers. He thinks you need a special oven for the darker colour.

We were looking for a recipie for Broa and were so glad to find one. It turned out pretty good, but it doesn't keep very well. My husband was used to broa looking darker although it does taste similar to what he remembers. He thinks you need a special oven for the darker colour.

Easy

Challenging

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 Easy

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