Delicious Homemade Tiger Bread Recipe

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There’s something uniquely gratifying about crafting your own bread at home. The aroma that fills the kitchen, the rhythmic kneading of dough, and the anticipation of a freshly baked loaf—these simple pleasures make homemade bread baking an experience to savor.

Tiger Bread, renowned for its crackled crust and soft interior, embodies the delight of artisanal bread-making. Let’s embark on this culinary adventure and create our own batch of this deliciously crunchy delight right in our kitchen!

Equipment:

• Mixing bowls
• Whisk or electric mixer with a dough hook attachment
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Pastry brush

Ingredients:

For the Bread:

• 500g (4 cups) bread flour
• 7g (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 250ml (1 cup) warm water

For the Crunchy Topping:

• 50g (1/4 cup) rice flour
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp yeast
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 100ml (1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) warm water

Method:

1. Prepare the Dough:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine bread flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.
   • Slowly add warm water while stirring until the dough comes together.
   • Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer with a dough hook attachment.
   • Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
2. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
3. Prepare the Topping:
   • In a separate bowl, mix together rice flour, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil, and warm water to form a thick paste.
4. Shape the Dough:
   • Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into desired portions for bread loaves or rolls.
   • Shape the portions into balls or loaves and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each one.
5. Apply the Topping:
   • Using a pastry brush or spoon, generously spread the topping mixture over the top of each portion of dough. Cover the entire surface evenly.
6. Bake:
   • Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bread turns golden brown, and the crust cracks and looks crunchy.
7. Cool and Serve:
   • Once baked, transfer the tiger bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy it fresh with butter, or use it for sandwiches or toast.

Tips:

• Ensure the water used in the dough is warm but not too hot as it can kill the yeast.
• For a more pronounced crunch, you can apply two coats of the topping mixture, allowing the first coat to dry slightly before applying the second.
• Experiment with the shapes and sizes of the loaves or rolls for different presentation options.
• Store leftover tiger bread in an airtight container to preserve its freshness.