Cucumber Bread - Milke Bread Recipe
This cucumber bread recipe is a delicious tangzhong milk loaf that features a fresh cucumber flavor, and is incredibly fluffy and creamy.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1/3 cup blended cucumber peeled and seeded (comes from about 1 medium cucumber)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- 2 3/4 cups bread flour
- 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 medium eggs plus more for egg wash
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
Fillings and Toppings
- 1/4 cup parsley or chives chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- flaky salt
Instructions
- Tangzhong: In a small pot over low heat add the blended cucumber puree, the water and ¼ cup of flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until you have a thick paste.
- Heat the milk until it's lukewarm. Mix with the active dry yeast and allow to rest for five minutes. It should begin to activate and create bubbles.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the hook attachment, add the tangzhong, activated yeast, 2 ½ cups of flour, heavy cream, sugar, salt, eggs and unsalted butter. Mix at low speed for 1 minute, until you have a shaggy dough. Then, increase the speed to medium and mix for 10 minutes. You should end up with a nice soft dough. If it’s too sticky, add 2-3 tablespoons of flour and mix until incorporated.
- Take out the bowl into a floured surface and create a ball. Place in a clean bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow to proof for 1 ½ hours, until the dough has doubled its size.
- Prepare the pan: Brush the bottom and sides of a standard loaf pan with butter. Line the bottom and two longer sides of the pan with a long piece of parchment paper, leaving an overhang of a couple inches on either side. Bruch the parchment lightly with butter and set aside.
- On a floured counter, stretch the dough with a rolling pin until it's 10”x12”. Sprinkle the parsley or chives and onion powder evenly on the entire surface. Roll up the dough into a tight spiral log, then pinch firmly along the seam to seal it and rest it seam-side down. Squeeze the log where it's a bit thicker in the center and tug outward to elongate and even out the thickness. Bring the ends of the dough together, lining up the two sides of the log so they are parallel to each other and bending at the midpoint to maintain the alignment (forming a U). Twist the lengths of dough around each other twice to form a short, tight corkscrew form, then transfer the coil to the prepared loaf pan. Press down gently on the twist to flatten it into the pan.
- Whip one egg until there are no streams left and use it to brush the bread.
- Proof for a second time for 45-60 minutes, until it has doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, preheat a 375 °F oven.
- Egg wash the dough for a second time and top with flaky salt and freshly cracked pepper.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes. Until the top is deep golden brown and puffed.
- Let cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before unmolding.
Nutrition
Calories: 2348kcal | Carbohydrates: 291g | Protein: 62g | Fat: 104g | Saturated Fat: 60g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 27g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 586mg | Sodium: 4848mg | Potassium: 828mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 3679IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 5mg