Masala Cheese Loaf (Bread with an Indianised version of Garam Masala and Herbs sprinkled over with Cheese)

Make the preferment : Make the preferment one day before kneading the dough .Mix all the ingredients and add enough water to make a sticky dough.This is important as the preferment has to be risen to 3 times the volume.

Keep in a warm place till it triples in volume. Spoon it out into a glass or a food grade plastic container and refrigerate.This can be stored under refrigeration indefinitely and used and required.It makes terrific tasting breads!

Knead the dough : Keep approximately half of the prepared pre ferment in a large bowl.Mix flour,salt,sugar,garam masala and turmeric powder over the pre ferment and keep covered for nearly 30 minutes.

The preferment may have come to the top of the flour and formed bubbles but its fine.

Mix the flour and spices into the pre ferment. Add enough lukewarm water and make into a soft dough which does not stick to the sides of the bowl.Keep it covered with a plate till the dough doubles in size and comes to nearly the top of the

Now add the butter/oil mixing it all the while into the dough with a pinching and pushing motion till all the oil is used up. Knead the dough vowed well using the back of your hands till smooth and elastic.

Cover with the plate and leave to rise.

After the dough has risen, punch it back.Take a sheet of clingfilm and grease it with oil or butter.Wrap the dough in it and keep it in a plastic bag.Refrigerate this dough for 8 hours or overnight.The clingfilm will puff up like a balloon.

If this happens then the bread would turn out fantastic!

Next day take out the dough from the plastic bag and clingfilm and punch it down again. Leave to come to room temperature.

Prepare a loaf pan.Flour the kitchen countertop and sprinkle the chopped herbs. Put the dough on the flour and herbs and knead for 15 – 20 minutes.Roll into a loaf and place seam side down in the loaf pan.

Cover with clingfilm again and leave to rise for almost an hour till the dough comes to nearly the top of the pan.You can make a loaf from 3/4 of the dough and use the rest to make lovely bread rolls.

Preheat oven to 180°C.After the loaf has risen sufficiently,brush the top with milk.Bake for 35 – 40 minutes till the cheese melts to a lovely golden brown ,a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean and the bread sounds hollow.

Leave to cool in the pan for 20 minutes and then remove the bread from the pan.Use a wide,sharp knife to loosen the bread on the sides,Take out on a wooden board and leave to cool overnight till it comes to room temperature.

Serve with butter and more cheese with hardboiled eggs and Coffee as accompaniments!Cheers to a delicious breakfast!