Baked Dishes

6.Foccacia (Serves-4):
Ingredients:
For the dough:
250g flour; 7g yeast; 4g sugar; 150ml water; 5g salt; 75ml olive oil; 10g oregano; 30g olives(chopped); Milk for the wash;

For the Topping:
2 red bell peppers(sliced); 2 yellow peppers(sliced); 2 green peppers(sliced); 2 onions(sliced); 5 olives(sliced); 150g Mozzarella cheese(grated);

Method:
Sieve the flour.Taking a little water, dissolve the yeast and sugar.Add the solution to the flour.Add water to knead the dough.Add salt, olive oil, oregano and the chopped olives.Make the dough lump free and smooth.Knead the dough well and allow to prove for 10 minutes.Make individual portions of approx 120g and hand roll each.Set aside for 10 minutes.Roll out in oval shapes of about 18cm and allow to prove for about 15-20 minutes till they rise a little. Meanwhile, saute the red, yellow and green peppers and the onion in a little olive oil.When half done, add the olive slices. Sprinkle over the oval-shaped dough and bake at 180°C for approx 10 minutes or till half brown.Remove the foccacia from the oven and sprinkle with the cheese.Serve.

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7.Savoury Chicken Loaf(Serves-6):
Ingredients:
40g melted butter; 2 ½ cups flour; 80g butter(chopped); 2/3 cup water;
For the filling:
1 tbsp oil; a few spinach leaves(blanched and chopped roughly); 1 red chilli(chopped); 500g chicken mince; 1 large tomato(peeled, seeded and chopped); 1 cup grated cheese; 2 tbsp flour; salt and pepper to taste; 1 egg(lightly beaten);
Method:
Preheat the oven to 210°C, brush a 21 * 14 cm loaf tin with the melted butter, reserving some.Place the flour on a marble top, add the chopped butter, and mix well till fine and crumbly.Add the water; little at a time, and knead the dough well till soft.Turn the dough onto a floured surface and roll out three quarters of the dough.It should be large enough to cover the base of the tin.Extend to the sides, ease onto the tin, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
To prepare the filling:
Heat the oil in a heavy based pan.Add the spinach and red chillies and stir well to mix thoroughly.Add the chicken mince, chopped tomatoes, cheese and flour.Season with the salt and pepper and cook till the mixture is well combined.Remove from heat and cool the filling.
To prepare the loaf:
Spoon the filling in to the prepared dough-lined tin, pressing into the corners.Roll out the remaining dough large enough to cover the tin.Pinch the dough edges together, cut slits onto the top of the loaf.Brush with the remaining melted butter.Bake for 40 minutes or till well browned.Allow to cool and then turn the loaf out.Cut into slices.Serve the chicken loaf warm.

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8.Cottage Cheese Croissants(Serves-6)::
Ingredients:

400g croissant dough; 4 cups crumbled cottage cheese; 2 tbsp oil/butter; 1 tbsp roasted cumin seeds; 2 green chillies(chopped); 2 cloves garlic(chopped); 4 sprigs curry leaves(chopped); 2 medium onions(chopped); 2 medium tomatoes(chopped); salt to taste; black pepper powder to taste; ½ tsp turmeric powder; a few sprigs coriander leaves(finely chopped);
Method:
Heat the oil/butter in a large pan and add the cumin seeds.Once they splutter, add the chopped green chillies,garlic and curry leaves.Stir fry for a few seconds.Add the chopped onions and saute on medium flame for 2 minutes.Add the chopped tomatoes,salt, pepper and turmeric powder.Stir-fry on medium flame for 3 minutes or till the fat leaves the sides of the pan.Add the crumbled cottage cheese.Mix well, cover and cook over low heat for about 3 minutes.Remove from heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.Set aside to cool. Roll out the croissant dough into rectangle and cut diagonally into two triangles.Place the cottage cheese mixture at the base of the triangle and roll over.Prove for 45 minutes and bake for 20 minutes.Remove and serve.

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