Khara Bread, Bakery Style

Khara bread takes me straight back to the South Indian bakeries I grew up with. A soft loaf with onion, green chillies, curry leaves, coriander and dill folded right into the dough.

I used a mix of bread flour and high protein flour. Brush it with salted butter as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Khara Bread

Quick Details
Makes: 1 loaf
Proofing time: about 1 hour 20 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Breads and Buns

Cuisine South Indian

Ingredients

  

For the dough

• 3 teaspoons yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cups water warm
• 1 cup high protein flour I used Right Shift
• 3 cups bread flour
• 6 tablespoons olive oil 4 for the dough, 2 while kneading
• salt to taste

For the filling

• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2 green chillies minced
• 4 sprigs curry leaves chopped
• 1 handful coriander stems chopped
• dill leaves chopped

To finish

• 1/8 cup milk
• salted butter

Instructions

 

• Bloom the yeast. Mix the yeast, sugar and warm water. Leave for about 8 minutes until frothy.
• Make the dough. Add the high protein flour and bread flour to a bowl with 4 tablespoons of olive oil and the bloomed yeast. Knead for about 5 minutes, adding 2 more tablespoons of oil.
• Proof. Cover and proof for 1 hour in a warm place until doubled.
• Add the filling. Mix the onion, green chillies, curry leaves, coriander stems and dill. Add to the dough and fold for about 3 minutes.
• Second proof. Transfer to a loaf pan and proof for 20 minutes. Brush with the milk.
• Bake. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20 minutes. Brush with salted butter, cool and slice.

Video

Keyword Khara Bread, Masala Bread, Bakery Style Bread

Tips for the Best Khara Bread

• Use warm water, not hot, so the yeast blooms well.
• Proof in a warm place until the dough doubles.
• Fold the onion mixture in gently so the dough does not lose all its air.
• Let the bread cool before slicing with a bread knife.

Storage

Keep wrapped at room temperature for 2 days. Warm slices on a tawa with butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use only maida or bread flour?
Yes. Use 4 cups of bread flour in total.

Can I add cheese?
Yes. A handful of grated cheese folded in with the onion mixture works well.

Bake this for your next tea time and tell me how it turned out. Watch the recipe video on YouTube and follow @askdeepa_ on Instagram for more.