How to make an Eight Strand Plaited Loaf...
To start, I put strong white bread flour in a bowl. I added salt and fast action dried yeast, making sure to keep them on separate sides of the bowl.
Then I added olive oil and water and mixed it together to form a dough.
I kneaded the dough for 10 minutes, then placed it into an oiled bowl and left it to rise for 1 hour.
I knocked the dough back, then divided it out into eight pieces.
I rolled each piece into a long strand approximately 40cm/16" long.
Then I laid all of the strands out and attached them at the top. Then I followed the plaiting sequence:
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
Baking trays | Mixing bowls | Cooling rack |
Kitchen scales | Fast action yeast | Metal dough scraper |
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Ingredients
- 500 g Strong White Bread Flour
- 340 ml Water
- 1 ½ tbsp Olive oil
- 7 g sachet Fast action dried yeast
- 10 g Salt
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Put the strong white bread flour in a bowl. Add the salt and yeast on separate sides of the bowl. Mix together
- Add 1 ½ tbsp olive oil and 340ml water and mix in
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes, then place it into an oiled bowl and leave to rise for 1 hour
- Knock it back then divide it into eight equal pieces
- Roll each piece into a long strand approximately 40cm/16" long
- Lay all of the strands out and attach them at the top. Then follow the plaiting sequence:Step 1: place 8 under 7 and over 1Step 2: place 8 over 5Step 3: place 2 under 3 and over 8Step 4: place 1 over 4Step 5: place 7 under 6 and over 1Repeats step 2-5, until all the dough is plaited
- Chop off any strands that are too long and tuck the end under to neaten it up. Put it onto a lined baking tray, cover it loosely with cling film and leave it to prove again for 1 hour
- Glaze the bread with 1 beaten egg
- Bake it on 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 for 25 minutes until it is golden and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom
Recipe from Paul Hollywood.
Jenny
Your loaf looks so shiny and beautiful - the plait is so well made too. I bet it smelt and tasted amazing!
ps. i also laughed at the wearing loafers gag!
Thank you for linking up xx
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Jenny! You just can't help but giggle at Mel and Sue 🙂
Johanna GGG
Very impressive - it is great that shows like this get such amazing baking done in our homes - makes me want to experiment more with bread baking - off I go to try and motivate myself 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
I agree, if it wasn't for Bake Off I wouldn't have experimented half as much as I have with my baking, it really does motivate me
Lucy Allen
What a gorgeous loaf Kat, the plaiting is wonderful! Also impressed that that was made with 500 g flour, mine was too and it was difficult to get all the strands long enough even when I weighed them!
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you! I wasn't that confident about my plaiting so that'd great to hear. Yes the strands were tricky, some of mine ended up longer and shorter as I plaited.
Anca
Looks really good, the plaiting is stunning. Well done.
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you so much!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
Well impressed! I wouldn't have a clue how to make an eight=strand plait..... And the texture of the loaf looks perfect! Well done xx
Kat BakingExplorer
I didn't either, luckily I had Paul's instructions! Thank you, bread always makes me nervous!
Amanda
I think it looks gorgeous! x
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you 🙂
Natalie Gardner
This is so impressive and the plaiting looks perfect. There is nothing quite as beautiful as the aroma of the freshly baked bread.
Kat BakingExplorer
You are so kind, thank you!
Angela Campos
This looks amazing! I love how you posted each step with pictures. I think I may give this a try 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you! I always find it helpful to show the stages, they do say a picture says a thousand words!