Chicken Plaited Bread

Kids always stay on the 'hungry mode' on whenever they are at home during weekends or vacations. Have you noticed this with your kids ? And a small snacking idea never suffices them. A filling meal like snacks otherwise the hungry mode is never turned off. Not only the filling snacks, it must be tasty and trending as well. 

If you are looking for something like that, then go ahead and give this chicken plaited bread a try. Am sure your family will love this. The filling is quite simple with a white creamy pasta kind sauce, but you can always change to a desi style chicken version like we do for a cutlet filling. I made the white pasta kind, as my kids love this kind of filling in breads. This filling is not spicy and is creamier. You can add grated cheese to make it even more delicious. Give this a try and enjoy !!

Preparation time ~ 20 minutes

Baking time ~ 40 minutes

Serves ~ a loaf 

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

to make dough

instant yeast 1.5 tsp

water 1/4 cup

sugar 2 tsp

all-purpose flour 1.5 cups

salt 1/4 tsp

egg yolk 1

egg white (add half to dough, reserve rest for brushing the bread)

milk 1/4 cup

oil (any neutral) 2 tbsp

sesame seeds 1 tbsp

chilly flakes 1 tbsp

to make filling

chicken (boneless) 250 g

salt 1/4 tsp

pepper powder 1/4 tsp

ginger chopped fine 2tsp

garlic chopped fine 2 tsp

onion 1 chopped fine

any neutral oil 2 tbsp

all-purpose flour (maida) 2 tbsp

mixed herbs 1 tsp

chilly flakes 1 tsp

tomato ketchup 1tbsp

milk 3/4 cup

salt to taste

Watch on YouTube -

Method

• Take 1/4 cup leuk warm water in a bowl and add the sugar, mix. Add the instant yeast and mix, leave undisturbed for 10 minutes to proof.
• Separate the egg white and yolk. Keep aside.
• When the yeast is proofed (creamy and foamy), add the all-purpose flour, salt.
• Add in the egg yolk and half of the egg white, pour the milk little by little to the dough. Knead the dough, the dough may be stick but don't worry. Keep kneading for 7–10 minutes.
• Add a tbsp of oil and mix. Add remaining oil to the bowl and on top of the dough. Cover and leave the dough for an hour to rise.
• In the meantime, prepare the filling. Add the boneless chicken pieces, with salt and pepper powder. Cook on medium flame for 10 minutes or till done. Cool completely and shred the chicken with a fork. Keep aside.
• Heat a pan and add oil. To this, add chopped garlic and ginger. Then add the fine chopped onion, sauté until translucent.
• Add the 2 tbsp of flour and cook till the raw smell of flour disappears on low flame. Add in the milk and mix till there are no lumps and is a smooth paste. Add the salt, mixed herbs, chilly flakes. Finally, add the shredded chicken and toss. Add the tomato ketchup and give a quick mix. Switch off the flame and leave to cool.
• After an hour, the dough is risen. Punch down the air and transfer the dough to a baking mat. Roll out the dough in a rectangle shape of 11" and 6" wide. Place the filling in the center leaving enough space on the edges. Cut thick diagonal strips on both sides. Cross over the strips over each other to cover the filling and close the bread. Do it starting from the top and close till the end.
• Transfer the bread to a baking tray with lining. Let the bread rise for another 30 minutes. Brush the egg white on top and add the chilly flakes and sesame seeds. In the last 10 minutes, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F or 180 degrees C. Finally, brush any remaining egg whites and place in oven. Bake for 20–25 minutes. Remove from the oven and apply butter on top of the bread for a softer crust. Cool slightly, cut in pieces and enjoy warm.

NOTES

*The filling is quite simple with a white creamy pasta kind sauce, but you can always change to a desi style chicken version like we do for a cutlet filling. 

*I made the white pasta kind, as my kids love this kind of filling in breads. This filling is not spicy and is creamier. 

*You can add extra grated cheese to make it even more delicious.

RECENTLY POSTED CHICKEN RECIPES-

* Chicken Sandwich

* Chicken Pasta

* Cheesy Chicken Bread Omelette

* Chicken Thoran(stir-fry)

* Chicken Bukhari

Pavakka Kichadi ~ Sadya Dish

 Pavakka khichadi is one of the simplest khichadi that you can prepare for sadya and a quick one. Love this simple healthy side dish that has a mild bitter taste along with the sour flavours of yogurt. I have prepared this khichadi with kondattam and so the frying time is quite less compared to the regular fresh bitter gourd. Do give this a try and enjoy!! 

Preparation time ~ 5 minutes

Cooking time ~ 10 minutes

Author ~ Julie

Serves ~ a small bowl

Ingredients

dried bitter gourd (pavakka kondattam) 1/2 cup

yogurt 3/4 cup

grated coconut 1/2 cup

mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

ginger, a very small size

green chillies 3-4

salt to taste

oil to fry

to temper

coconut oil 1 tbsp

mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

dry red chillies, 2 broken

curry leaves, 2 sprigs

Watch on YouTube -

Method

• Grind the coconut with mustard seeds, ginger(a very small piece), yogurt (2 tbsp) to a smooth paste. Keep aside.
• Whisk the remaining yogurt smooth and keep aside.
• In an earthen pot, add the ground paste. Add 2 tbsp of water to the blender jar along with the whisked yogurt. Bring to a slow boil for 3–4 minutes. Switch off the flame.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry the pavakka kondattam until crisp. Drain from oil and keep aside. Add the green chillies until crisp, drain from oil.
• Add the fried bitter gourd & green chillies.
• Heat oil in a pan to temper. Add mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves. Fry and pour over the khichadi.
• Add salt, give a quick mix, keep covered for 10 minutes for the flavours to seep in.
• Serve as a side dish for sadya. Enjoy !!

NOTES

* Add salt towards the end, as kondattam already as salt in it. Adjust accordingly.

* You can make the same with other fried kondattam like payaru kondattam.

2 Summer Drinks - Beet Grapes Juice & Carrot Orange Juice

I love those summer drinks that are simple yet bursting with flavours to calm down the heat and refresh the body with a full pack energy drink. This is one of the best two combinations that you can try for your Iftar parties or surprise guests for summers. The natural colour of both drinks are commendable, and the flavours are just superb. Do give this a try and enjoy this summer.

Preparation time ~ 10 minutes

Cooking time ~ nil

Serves ~ 2 glasses

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

for beet - grapes drink

beetroot 1/2 of 1

grapes 1/2 cup

lime juice 1 tbsp

sugar syrup 1/4 cup

ice cubes 

water 1 1/4 cup

for carrot - orange drink

carrot 2 medium-sized

orange 2 medium-sized

sugar syrup 1/4 cup

ice cubes

water 1 cup

for sugar syrup

granulated sugar 3/4 cup

water 1/2 cup

Watch on YouTube -

Method

• Prepare a sugar syrup by mixing sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil till the sugar dissolves. Switch off the flame and leave to cool. Use as needed and refrigerate the rest, can use for a month.

• Peel and cut the beetroot and carrots in cubes separately. Wash the grapes and keep aside. 
• In 2 different bowls, add the beetroot and carrots. Add 1/4 cup water and cook till done. Cool.

BEET - GRAPES DRINK

• In a blender jar, add the cooked beet, grapes and blend smooth without adding water. Pour in a strainer and add /4 water to the jar and pour. Discard the residue after straining. Add the remaining water, ice cubes.
• Pour in glasses after adding sugar syrup and lime juice. Mix and serve chilled.

                                                              

CARROT - ORANGE DRINK

• In a blender jar, add the cooked carrots and blend. Add 3/4 water and blend smooth. Pour through a strainer and add the remaining water to the jar, pour. Discard the residue. To this, add the orange juice(1/2 cup).
• Add the sugar syrup and then pour in the carrot orange drink. Mix and serve chilled with ice cubes.

NOTES

* If you plan ahead and refrigerate, then mix the lime juice and orange juice only before serving, else they leave out a bitter tinge.

* Preparing sugar syrup gives a glossy finish to the drink, you can always add sugar or honey too.

* You can prepare this drink without straining too, In that case add more water to dilute and modify other flavours accordingly.

* You can even add soaked sabja seeds for more cooling.

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