**Delve into the Sweet Delights of Portuguese Sweet Bread: A Culinary Journey of Po Doce and Massa Sovada**
In the realm of Portuguese cuisine, there exists a delectable duo of sweet treats that have tantalised taste buds for generations: Po Doce and Massa Sovada. These heavenly creations, often gracing special occasions and holidays, are a symphony of flavors and textures that embody the essence of Portuguese culinary heritage. Embark on a delightful journey as we unveil the secrets behind these iconic pastries, offering you a glimpse into their rich history, diverse variations, and the enticing recipes that await you within this article.
**Po Doce: A Bite-Sized Symphony of Sweetness**
Picture a delicate, bite-sized morsel of pure indulgence. Po Doce, meaning "sweet bread" in Portuguese, is a traditional Portuguese pastry that encapsulates the essence of simplicity and charm. Its soft and fluffy texture, kissed with a hint of lemon and cinnamon, harmoniously complements the sweet filling, often featuring creamy egg custard or a velvety chocolate ganache. As you sink your teeth into a Po Doce, prepare for a burst of delightful flavors that dance upon your palate, leaving you craving more.
**Massa Sovada: A Rich and Buttery Masterpiece**
In the realm of Portuguese sweet breads, Massa Sovada reigns supreme. This enriched dough, meticulously crafted with butter, eggs, and sugar, boasts a golden-brown crust that encases a soft and yielding crumb. Its versatility knows no bounds, allowing for a myriad of variations that cater to every palate. From the classic plain Massa Sovada to indulgent incarnations studded with dried fruits, nuts, or ribbons of citrus zest, each bite promises a harmonious blend of sweetness and richness.
**Explore a Treasure Trove of Recipes**
Within this article, you'll find a treasure trove of recipes that celebrate the artistry of Po Doce and Massa Sovada. Dive into the step-by-step instructions, carefully curated to guide you through the baking process with ease. Whether you're a seasoned baker seeking inspiration or a novice eager to embark on a culinary adventure, these recipes will empower you to recreate these Portuguese delicacies in the comfort of your own kitchen.
So, gather your ingredients, don your apron, and let the enticing aromas of Po Doce and Massa Sovada fill your home. Prepare to be captivated by the delightful flavors and textures that await you in this exploration of Portuguese sweet bread. Bon appétit!
PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD - PãO DOCE (MASSA SOVADA)
This is a light and airy bread created by Portuguese residents from the Azores Islands as a sweet bread for Christmas and Easter. (For Easter, 2-3 boiled eggs are baked into the dough). Today, it's served year-round for breakfast or to enjoy with tea or coffee. It's popular in many parts of the U.S. as well, as Azorean...
Provided by Vickie Parks
Categories Sweet Breads
Time 4h45m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. Heat milk, but do not scald. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted. Stir in the sugar and salt. Set aside to allow milk to cool.
- 2. Meanwhile, make yeast starter by mixing the packages of yeast with the warm water and sugar. Stir yeast until dissolved and let it rest until you see bubbles activating.
- 3. Beat 4 eggs for a few minutes, then add beaten eggs to the milk in a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast mixture to the milk along with the whiskey or lemon zest (if using), and beat for 2 minutes.
- 4. Begin adding the flour, 1 cup at a time, until it's all incorporated. Use your dough hooks or your hands to knead for about 10 minutes. The batter should be very silky and smooth but not sticky. Add more flour if you find the dough sticky.
- 5. Remove dough from mixer, place on a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and soft. Place the dough into a large floured bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Let it rise in a warm place for 2 to 3 hours or until doubled.
- 6. After the dough has doubled, punch it down (to deflate its volume). Divide dough in half, and place both halves on a floured surface. Form dough into two round loaves, and place loaves on a large greased baking sheet (or two smaller baking sheets). Or form dough into about 24 rolls, and place rolls about 1 inch apart in a lightly greased baking pan. Set baking pan(s) aside to let the dough rise for another hour (or place in a slightly warm oven for about 20 minutes or until almost double).
- 7. Preheat oven to 325°F.
- 8. Beat one egg with 1 Tbsp milk. Brush tops of the bread with the egg wash, and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 300°F, and bake another 30 minutes or until the bread has a golden caramel color. NOTE: rolls bake in less time, approximately 45 minutes.)
PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD - PAO DOCE
I found this recipe when I was looking for recipes to be posted for ZWT5. It is from the New Betty Crocker International Cookbook. So soft and light!
Provided by Leahs Kitchen
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 4h35m
Yield 2 loaves, 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl.
- Stir in milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs, salt, margarine or butter, and 3 cups of flour.
- Beat until smooth.
- Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle.
- Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic - about 5 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place until it is double in size - about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Punch down dough and divide in half.
- Shape each half into a round slightly flat loaf.
- Place each loaf into a well greased round 9" x 1 1/2" pan.
- Cover and let rise until double (a/b an hour).
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Beat 1 egg and brush over tops of loaves.
- Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- Bake until loaves are golden brown, about 35-45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 420.6, Fat 12.8, SaturatedFat 7.1, Cholesterol 102.2, Sodium 356.8, Carbohydrate 65.4, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 15.6, Protein 10.8
PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD (MASSA SOVADA)
No where else can make a sweet bread loaf like my hometown of Fall River, MA. It is a traditional recipe that is known to be brought over from the immigrants of São Miguel. This bread is most popular at Easter, but enjoyed year round. I like to have mine for breakfast with a little butter added on it. But, it is also served for...
Provided by Tara Pacheco
Categories Other Breakfast
Time 8h40m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Dissolve yeast in water and let rise to double in size.
- 2. Mix together flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, melt butter and shortening in milk over medium heat and cool to lukewarm. Beat eggs and sugar together.
- 3. Mix all ingredients together and knead until dough lifts neatly from bowl. Let rise, usually six to eight hours.
- 4. Punch down, deflating the dough. Form individual breads and put in buttered and floured pans (most any shape or size will do). The dough should fill only half the pan. Let rise again until dough doubles in size, filling the pan.
- 5. Brush top of dough with beaten egg.
- 6. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes (adjust longer cook time for larger loaves). The bread should be golden brown.
PAO DOCE (PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD)
Make and share this Pao Doce (Portuguese Sweet Bread) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Laniakea
Categories Yeast Breads
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil potato until soft. Save 1/4 cup of the water the potato was boiled in and cool to lukewarm.
- Mash potato and measure out 1/2 cup.
- Add 2 Tbsp sugar and the yeast to the lukewarm potato water, stir to dissolve. Stir in mashed potato and set mixture aside to double in bulk.
- Scald milk, add salt and cool to lukewarm.
- Melt butter and cool.
- In large warm mixing bowl (rinse with hot water and dry before using), beat eggs.
- Remove 1 Tbsp of eggs to use for brushing tops of loaves.
- Gradually beat in sugar, then melted butter.
- Combine egg and yeast mixtures.
- Blend thoroughly.
- Add 1 1/3 cups of the flour and 1/4 cup milk.
- Beat until completely mixed.
- Add another 1 1/3 cups flour and beat till blended.
- (All ingredients should be in your dough now except for the last of the flour you will be kneading with.) Turn out the dough on floured board.
- Add last 1 1/3 cups flour* and knead dough till smooth and elastic, 75 to 100 times.
- Make a ball of dough, place in an oiled bowl, cover with damp cloth, and let rise in warm place. When double in bulk, punch down, divide dough into 2 round balls and place on 2 oiled pie pans or in oiled bread pans.
- Allow it to double in bulk (about 1 hour). Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush loaves with beaten eggs.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until brown and done. They may be frozen.
- * Additional flour may have to be added to make a soft dough.
- Dough should be smooth not sticky after kneading is complete. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MASSA SOVADA (PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD)
Massa Sovada is is typically served on Easter and can often be found with an egg baked on it, symbolizing the resurrection. This recipe is from Yankee Magazine. Cook time does not include approximately 7 hours of rise time.
Provided by Scarlett516
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 20m
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Scald the milk by bringing it to nearly a boil.
- Add the sugar, butter, and salt. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
- Set aside and allow to cool.
- Proof the yeast in the warm water. Add to the milk mixture and transfer to a large bowl.
- Beat in the eggs.
- Add the mace and lemon extract.
- Slowly stir in 5-6 cups flour. The dough should be firm and only a little sticky.
- Knead on a floured surface (or with the dough hook on a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic.
- Put in a greased bowl, covered with wax paper or a clean cloth. Place in a cool place and allow to double slowly, about 3-4 hours.
- Punch, recover, and allow to rise another 1 1/2-2 hours.
- Punch down again and divide into 2 equal portions. Put in greased pans, cover, and allow to rise one more time for about 1 hour or until doubled.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped (35-40 minutes).
- Cool on rack.
MASSA SOVADA - PORTUGUESE SWEET BREAD
Make and share this Massa Sovada - Portuguese Sweet Bread recipe from Food.com.
Provided by tranch
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 5h30m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small bowl dissolve yeast in warm water and allow to proof, about 10 minutes.
- Scald milk and stir in sugar, butter and salt. Stir until butter is melted.
- Combine cinnamon and flour.
- Add half the flour to the milk and mix until smooth.
- Beat 3 eggs and add them and the yeast to the mixture. Continue adding flour to make a soft dough.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and satiny, about 15 minutes.
- Knead raisins in at this point, if using.
- Shape into a ball and place into a well buttered bowl, turning to cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
- Punch dough down and divide in half.
- Place in two greased loaf pans and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat remaining egg. Brush tops of loaves with egg.
- Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until golden and hollow sounding when thumped on the bottom.
- Cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 204.3, Fat 12, SaturatedFat 7, Cholesterol 102.2, Sodium 238.1, Carbohydrate 21.7, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 20.1, Protein 3.4
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
- Activate the yeast properly before using it. Proof the yeast in warm water with a little bit of sugar for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes foamy.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help develop the gluten in the dough, which will give the bread a chewy texture.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This will allow the yeast to ferment and produce carbon dioxide, which will create air pockets in the bread.
- Bake the bread in a preheated oven. This will help create a crispy crust and a fluffy interior.
- Brush the bread with melted butter or olive oil before baking. This will help give the bread a golden brown color.
- Serve the bread warm or at room temperature. It can be enjoyed on its own, or with butter, jam, or other toppings.
Conclusion:
Po Doce (Massa Sovada) is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With its sweet and slightly tangy flavor, it is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you are looking for a special bread to make, give Po Doce a try. You won't be disappointed!
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