Saffron Bread (Abm)

PaulaG's Note:

If you are a true lover of saffron then this bread is for you. Saffron is the world's most expensive spice with 225,000 crocus stigmas are need to make a single pound. This is a bread for special occasions or when you want any occasion special. This is a great bread to serve with seafood and hearty soups. Source: Electric Bread.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 loaf

• 1 ¼ cups tepid water
• 3 cups white bread flour
• ½ tablespoon sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon saffron thread
• 2 teaspoons yeast

Directions:

1. Place the egg in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes in order to safely reach room temperature.
2. Using a mortar and pestle grind the saffron threads into fine powder.
3. Place the ingredients into the bread machine in order given.
4. Turn bread machine to white bread cycle and press start.
5. When bread is done, remove from machine and place on wire rack to cool.

Reviews

[HouseChef]

This bread machine recipe was easy and made a very fine 2 lb loaf of saffron bread. I was a bit leery about the order of the last 4 ingredients, but I wanted to test the recipe as written (with the exception of adding 1/4+ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2 crushed sugar cubes on top of the dough at the 2nd beep). I think this recipe would also work well with a dough setting, make a traditional braid of the dough, rise again, then bake in a 375F oven for ~25 minutes. I served this bread with some Finnish stew - enjoyed very much.