Taste of Louisiana Spiced Bread Braid

This is a Cajun bread spiced with tomato, spices, garlic, heat form hot peppers. I read and was told you can not mix fresh garlic into the bread dough because the garlic will kill the yeast. I have and never had a problem. Just look at the picture of my bread. Be sure to place the garlic in separate corners from the yeast.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups water
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1⁄4 cup ricotta cheese
• 4 1⁄2 cups bread flour
• 1  teaspoon paprika, smoked
• 1⁄2 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon dried parsley
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  pinch red pepper flakes
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 2  teaspoons fast rising yeast

• Glaze

• 1  egg, mixed

Directions

1. Place water, oil, paste and cheese in bread machine. Top with flour, place the spices and garlic in one corner, salt and sugar in separate corners. Make a hole in the center and place the yeast.
2. Set machine to dough cycle and press start.
3. Lightly spray baking pan.
4. When dough cycle has finished turn out on to a flour surface.
5. Divide into 3 pieces making a rope of each.
6. Place each next to each other. Start at center and braid to end and tuck ends under.
7. Turn dough around and braid the remaining ropes and tucks ends under.
8. Place the bread on the oiled pan cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 45 minutes.
9. Meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees.
10. Remove wrap and glaze the bread with the egg.
11. Bake for 30 minutes.