Saffron Pine-Nut Bread
Recipe courtesy of Rancho la Puerta
Ingredients
4 cups warm water
1 cups syrup of agave* or maple syrup
2 tbs. active dry yeast
2 tsp. saffron, finely ground
1 tbs. sea salt
1 stick unsalted butter
½ cup pine-nuts, toasted
4 cups whole wheat flour
4-5 cups unbleached flour or more whole wheat
* Agave is a succulent plant native to Mexico and surrounding countries. The syrup is low glycemic (around 11 – 20 on the glycemic index).
Preparation
1. Mix water, syrup and yeast. Let stand until frothy. Add in the saffron, salt and butter. Stir well. Add half of the flour with the pine nuts, mixing until smooth.
2. Stir in the remaining flour. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic.
3. Return dough to bowl and cover with a damp tea towel to prevent the dough from drying out. Let dough rise in a warm, draft free place until double in bulk, about 2 hours.
4. Punch dough down. Divide into 2 equal portions. Spread each into a rectangle. Roll up into loaves. Seal edges by pinching.
5. Place loaves in oiled loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm draft free place until nearly double, about 40 minutes. Bake loaves in preheated 375 ˚F oven for one hour or until tops are browned and the loaves sound somewhat hollow when tapped.
