On the Chocolate Trail

Here’s another easy bread requiring no oven, no mixer and no braiding. Also, no fussy flour needed. Perfect for summer, though delicious all year long.

My story about dabo and its use in Ethiopian Jewish practice may be seen at the Jewish Week, Bless This Bread.

adapted from The Sephardic Kitchen by Copeland Marks

Prep time: 15 minutes
Rising time: 7 hours
Cooking time: 30-35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon dry yeast
2 tablespoons baking powder
3 cups lukewarm water (about 110º F)
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
4 cups or more, unbleached flour
Assorted recipes suggest spicing with nigella seeds, with coriander, cardamom, cloves, fenugreek, and/or cinnamon.  Use about 1 teaspoon of each preferred spice or more to taste.

INSTRUCTIONS

Dissolve the yeast and the baking powder in the water. Mix in the egg yolks, salt, sugar, spices of choice, and oil. Add the flour and prepare a smooth dough by mixing the “wet” dough for 5 minutes. Let the dough rise in a plastic bag covered and oiled bowl at room temperature for about 6 hours. Deflate the dough gently.
Put the dough in a lightly oiled large round skillet or divide among two, and let rise, covered fully by the plastic bag, for 1 hour. Cook it on the stove, covered with matching pan lid, at low heat for 25 to 30 minutes. Turn the loaf over and cook for 5 more minutes. Cool on racks. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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