Bara Brith means 'speckled bread' and
is common to all the Celtic countries. In Ireland it is called
Barm Brack; in Scotland it is called Selkirk Bannock and in Brittany
it is called Morlaix Brioche. It is also an traditional eat in
Argentina, characteristic of the Chubut
province in Patagonia since 1865, where it is called Torta
negra. It is traditionally made with yeast, but very good bara
brith is made using baking powder.
1 lb. (4 cups) flour 1 oz. yeast
1/2 pint (1 cup) luke-warm milk
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 oz. (scant 1/2 cup) lard or butter
1 egg
warm honey to glaze
2 heaped tablespoons chopped mixed peel
1/2 teaspoon mixed ground spice
6 oz. (2/3 cup) seeless raisins
3 tablespoons currants
4 tablespoons brown sugar
pinch of salt
See that all utensils and ingredients are warm.
Warm the milk to tepid with the teaspoon of white sugar, crumble
in the yeast and set aside for 10-20 minutes until it is frothy.
Rub the fat into the flour, then stir in the peel, dried fruit,
spices, brown sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre, add the
yeasted milk and the well beaten egg. Mix to a soft dough, cover
and leave in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours, until it
is double its size. Turn onto a floured board and knead well,
then put into a well-greased tin, cover again and leave for 30
minutes. Remove cover and put into a hot over (400F) for 20 minutes,
then lower the heat to 325F and bake for one and a quarter hours.
The loaf will sound hollow when tapped on the
bottom if it is properly cooked. Put onto a wire rack and brush
the top with clear honey whilst it is still warm to give it a
nice glaze. Let it get quite cold before cutting, and serve in
slices with butter.
Our self catering Welsh holiday cottages
have fully equipped kitchens ideal for trying out some of these
Welsh recipes.
Welsh Food Festivals
Why not combine a holiday at our self catering
cottages with one of the following food festivals?
Abergavenny Food Festival
Wales's best known food festival.
Neath
Market Faggot and Peas Festival
Served at Neath Market since the 1920's and still a favourite
today, a Faggots and Peas Competiton is held every September.
