Namibian Veldt Bread
A rustic and lightly spiced quick bread with a slightly chewy, biscuit-like texture. Namibian Veldt Bread is reminiscent of Irish soda bread but with an African twist, perfect served warm with butter alongside a meal or on its own.
🧂 Ingredients
- 3.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- 3.5 tbsp Brown sugar
- 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp Ground ginger
- 0.25 tsp Ground cloves
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 cup Butter(melted, plus more for greasing)
- 0.75 cup Milk
- 1 large Egg(slightly beaten)
- 2 tsp Vegetable oil(for greasing loaf pan)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 360°F (180°C). Grease a standard loaf pan with butter or vegetable oil.
💡 Tip: Using vegetable oil for greasing can prevent butter from burning. - 2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Ensure all dry ingredients are well combined.
💡 Tip: Whisking the dry ingredients helps distribute the leavening agent and spices evenly. - 3
Add the melted butter, milk, and beaten egg to the dry ingredients. Stir until a shaggy dough begins to form.
💡 Tip: The dough will be slightly stiff and may seem dry at first. - 4
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and homogenous. Be careful not to over-knead.
💡 Tip: Kneading develops gluten, giving the bread structure. Over-kneading can make it tough. - 5
Press the dough evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
💡 Tip: Smooth the top of the dough with lightly floured hands or a spatula. - 6
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped.
💡 Tip: Baking time may vary depending on your oven. - 7
Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely, or slice and serve warm with butter.
💡 Tip: Veldt bread is best enjoyed warm with a generous amount of butter.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓This bread is a quick bread, meaning it uses baking powder instead of yeast, making it fast to prepare.
- ✓The spices can be adjusted to your preference. Some variations include nutmeg.
- ✓If you don't have a loaf pan, you can shape the dough into a round loaf and bake it on a baking sheet.
🔄 Variations
- Add a handful of raisins or dried cranberries to the dough for a touch of sweetness.
- For a more savory bread, reduce the sugar slightly and add a pinch of black pepper.
- Serve with jam, honey, or alongside soups and stews.