Portugese Cornbread

The olive oil makes this different from your average cornbread!


Ingredients:
•1 1/2 cups cornmeal
•1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper
•1 1/2 teaspoons salt
•1     cup boiling water
•1     package rapid-rise yeast
•1     teaspoon sugar
•1/4   cup hot water (125°F. to 130°F.)
•1     tablespoon olive oil
•2     cups (about) bread flour
•      Olive oil

Method:
• Mix 1 cup cornmeal, pepper and salt in large bowl of electric mixer fitted 
  with dough hook. Add 1 cup boiling water and mix until smooth. Let cool to
  120°F., about 20 minutes. Mix in yeast and sugar, then 1/4 cup hot water and
  1 tablespoon oil. Mix in remaining 1/2 cup cornmeal. Add 1 cup flour and mix 
  until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

• Cover bowl with damp towel and let dough rise in warm draft-free area until 
  puffy, about 45 minutes.

• Grease 9-inch metal pie pan with oil. Knead enough bread flour into dough to 
  make it nonsticky. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 
  minutes. Knead into a ball. Place in pan. Flatten to fill bottom of pan. Cover 
  with towel; let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 50 minutes.

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Score top of bread in ticktacktoe pattern. Bake until 
  bread is light brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, about 45 
  minutes. Remove from pan; cool on rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. 
	
• Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool. Wrap tightly. Before serving, wrap in foil and 
  warm in 350°F. oven 15 minutes.)

Makes 1 loaf 

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