Recipe for
Streptikios artos
(Plaited bread)
by Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists
Roman Cookery: Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens.
Yes, this book has a new cover, but I like this one better. Blah, I am so horrible.
The Greeks were the first to know how to make an easy, tasty and crusty loaf of bread. We don't actually know what sort of pattern was used in this Roman version and it seems needless to elaborate.
The pepper, of course, makes this very much a savoury bread, although it is also tasty when spread with honey. Substituting lard for olive oil stresses the uncertain nature of food supplies before the modern era.
There are two reasons for the use of goat's milk in this and other recipes: the first is the predominance of goats over cows in Roman times, particularly in the lands around the Mediterranean; the second is the flavour, the sharpness of this milk adding a necessary piquancy to the dough.
Original recipe:
Translation: Twisted bread is made with a little milk, and there is added pepper and a small amount of olive oil; or if not oil, then lard.
Ingredients
- 600 g/17 oz wholemeal flour
- 150 ml/5fl oz warm water
- 1½ tsp dried yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 200 ml/7fl oz goat's milk
- 60ml/2fl oz olive oil
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 egg-white
Preparation
- Dissolve the sugar in the warm water.
- Sprinkle on the dried yeast and whisk.
- Cover with the cling film and leave in a warm, dry place for 15 minutes.
- Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.and knead for 5 minutes until the dough is firm to the touch..
- Cover the mixing bowl with cling film and allow the dough to rise for 2 hours.
- Knead the dough again and separate into three equal sections.
- Roll out the sections into 30 cm/12"lengths.
- Make a plait, pressing gently at the centre to prevent the loaf from breaking up.
- Place the loaf on a greased baking tray and cover loosely with a plastic bag to allow the dough to rise again.
- After about one hour glaze the loaf with the beaten egg-white and bake for 40 minutes at 200°c/400°f Gas mark 6.
- Serve with a savoury dip.
