In the realm of quick breads, the Zuni Café's moist and delectable cornmeal-based creation stands out as a true masterpiece. This enticing bread, a testament to the culinary genius of Judy Rodgers, the former chef and owner of the renowned Zuni Café in San Francisco, has captivated bread enthusiasts worldwide with its unique blend of flavors and textures. Its secret lies in the harmonious union of stone-ground cornmeal, all-purpose flour, and buttermilk, resulting in a symphony of sweet and savory notes that delight the palate. Whether you prefer the classic recipe or are intrigued by variations like the bacon-studded cornbread or the cheesy jalapeño cornbread, this article offers a comprehensive guide to recreating these culinary gems in your own kitchen. Embark on a delicious journey as we delve into the secrets of the Zuni bread and explore the diverse recipes that pay homage to this iconic creation.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
ZUNI INDIAN BREAD
Not an authentic Native American recipe but the name given by "Bread Machine Magic." I avoided making this loaf for a long time because I don't typically have the ingredients but this is a very good, sturdy loaf. This recipe makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf.
Provided by LaJuneBug
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 2h40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place all ingredients in bread pan, select Light Crust setting and press Start.
- After the baking cycle ends, remove bread from pan, place on cake rack and allow to cool 1 your before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 518.7, Fat 13.7, SaturatedFat 4.3, Cholesterol 66.5, Sodium 1069.2, Carbohydrate 85.2, Fiber 9.6, Sugar 11.7, Protein 18.2
ZUNI BREAD
Make and share this Zuni Bread recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Chef Otaktay
Categories Breads
Time 1h35m
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- mix all the ingredients into a dough and let rise.
- form into a flat round loaf about 1 inch thick.
- bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2152.6, Fat 33.2, SaturatedFat 4.9, Cholesterol 8.6, Sodium 4173.8, Carbohydrate 409.1, Fiber 44.2, Sugar 46.9, Protein 73.8
ZUNI CAFé'S FOCACCIA
The excellent hamburger at Zuni Café in San Francisco has always been served on a square of toasted rosemary focaccia. The pastry chef Annie Callan offers this house recipe: Scaled to a reasonable size, it is easy to put together and fun to make. Bake it in a 9-by-12-inch rimmed baking sheet for a nice, thick focaccia that can be cut into six 4-inch squares (the trimmings are a delicious snack), and split horizontally into a hamburger bun. The baked focaccia can be kept for several days in an airtight container and needs only a brief toasting to bring it back to life. But you can also roll the dough thinner and bake a more pizzalike flatbread, perhaps topped with stewed onions or peppers.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, breads
Time 2h30m
Yield 6 squares
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine water and yeast, stirring to dissolve. Add 3 tablespoons oil and rosemary. Add bread flour and mix, using dough hook, to make a stiff batter. Let sit at room temperature until bubbly and doubled in size, about 20 minutes.
- Add all-purpose flour and salt. Mix at low speed until dough comes together. Continue mixing for 10 minutes, until smooth.
- Remove dough hook and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise until doubled, about 40 minutes. Punch down dough, remove from bowl and knead briefly on work surface. Dough should be soft and slightly sticky. Dust with about 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, if necessary, for easier handling.
- Using a rolling pin, stretch the dough into a rectangle about 10 by 14 inches. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let relax for 10 minutes.
- Grease a 9-by-12-inch rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Dust bottom of pan lightly with cornmeal.
- Transfer dough to baking sheet, and, using your hands, stretch it to the edges of the baking sheet. Dough will spring back: Let it rest again for a few minutes; it may take several attempts to fill entire baking sheet evenly.
- Cover stretched dough loosely with a damp kitchen towel (or use an inverted rimmed baking sheet), set in a somewhat-warm place, and let rise to top of baking sheet, or slightly higher, about 40 minutes.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Uncover and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until nicely browned. Cool on a rack and cut into 4-inch squares. (The extra focaccia trimmings are delicious toasted.) Split squares horizontally and reheat before serving.
ZUNI VEGETABLE STEW WITH NAVAJO FRY BREAD
The Zuni, a tribe of Pueblo Indians, live in New Mexico. The fresh ingredients that make up this hearty stew (various chiles and squashes, corn and beans) are representative of that region's native bounty. Hot Navajo Fry Breads would be delicious served with this one. Navajo Fry Bread is a Santa Fe specialty that has become popular throughout the Southwest. A hole is always poked through the center of each round of dough so that the bread puffs spectacularly when cooked in hot oil.
Provided by Olha7397
Categories Stew
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- FOR THE SOUP: Cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in 4 quart Dutch oven over medium heat until onion is tender. Stir in bell pepper, poblano and jalapeno chiles. Cook 15 minutes.
- Stir in Hubbard squash, broth, salt, pepper and coriander. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender, about 10 minutes. 6 servings about 1 1/3 cups each.
- FOR THE NAVAJO FRY BREADS: Mix flour, baking powder and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans side of bowl. Gather into ball; cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Heat oil (1 inch) to 400°F in 4 quart Dutch oven.
- Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 6 inch circle on lightly floured surface. Let rest a few minutes.
- Make a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter in center of each circle. Fry circles, turning once, until puffed and golden, about 1 minute on each side; drain. Serve warm. 12 breads.
- Southwest Cooking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 466.4, Fat 11.7, SaturatedFat 2.2, Sodium 1443.7, Carbohydrate 76.5, Fiber 11.2, Sugar 6.4, Protein 17.9
ZUNI ROAST CHICKEN WITH BREAD SALAD
Provided by Judy Rodgers
Categories Chicken Herb Low Fat Kid-Friendly Low Cal Dinner Healthy Dairy Free Peanut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield 2 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Seasoning the chicken (1 to 3 days before serving; for 3-1/4- to 3-1/2-pound chickens, at least 2 days):
- Remove and discard the lump of fat inside the chicken. Rinse the chicken and pat very dry inside and out. Be thorough-a wet chicken will spend too much time steaming before it begins to turn golden brown.
- Approaching from the edge of the cavity, slide a finger under the skin of each of the breasts, making 2 little pockets. Now use the tip of your finger to gently loosen a pocket of skin on the outside of the thickest section of each thigh. Using your finger, shove an herb sprig into each of the 4 pockets.
- Season the chicken liberally all over with salt and the pepper (we use 3/4 teaspoon sea salt per pound of chicken). Season the thick sections a little more heavily than the skinny ankles and wings. Sprinkle a little of the salt just inside the cavity, on the backbone, but don't otherwise worry about seasoning the inside. Twist and tuck the wing tips behind the shoulders. Cover loosely and refrigerate.
- Starting the bread salad (up to several hours in advance):
- Preheat the broiler. Cut the bread into a couple of large chunks. Carve off all of the bottom crust and most of the top and side crust (reserve the top and side crusts to use as croûtons in salads or soups). Brush the bread all over with olive oil. Broil very briefly, to crisp and lightly color the surface. Turn the bread chunks over and crisp the other side. Trim off any badly charred tips, then tear the chunks into a combination of irregular 2- to 3-inch wads, bite-sized bits, and fat crumbs. You should get about 4 cups.
- Combine about 1/4 cup of the olive oil with the Champagne or white wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss about 1/4 cup of this tart vinaigrette with the torn bread in a wide salad bowl; the bread will be unevenly dressed. Taste one of the more saturated pieces. If it is bland, add a little salt and pepper and toss again. Place the currants in a small bowl and moisten with the red wine vinegar and warm water. Set aside.
- Roasting the chicken and assembling the salad:
- Preheat the oven to 475°F. (Depending on the size, efficiency, and accuracy of your oven, and the size of your bird, you may need to adjust the heat to as high as 500°F or as low as 450°F during the course of roasting the chicken to get it to brown properly. If that proves to be the case, begin at that temperature the next time you roast a chicken. If you have a convection function on your oven, use it for the first 30 minutes; it will enhance browning, and may reduce overall cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes.)
- Choose a shallow flameproof roasting pan or dish barely larger than the chicken, or use a 10-inch skillet with an all-metal handle. Preheat the pan over medium heat. Wipe the chicken dry and set it breast side up in the pan. It should sizzle. Place in the center of the oven and listen and watch for it to start sizzling and browning within 20 minutes. If it doesn't, raise the temperature progressively until it does. The skin should blister, but if the chicken begins to char, or the fat is smoking, reduce the temperature by 25 degrees. After about 30 minutes, turn the bird over (drying the bird and preheating the pan should keep the skin from sticking). Roast for another 10 to 20 minutes, depending on size, then flip back over to recrisp the breast skin, another 5 to 10 minutes. Total oven time will be 45 minutes to an hour.
- While the chicken is roasting, place the pine nuts in a small baking dish and set in the hot oven for a minute or two, just to warm through. Add them to the bowl of bread.
- Place a spoonful of the olive oil in a small skillet, add the garlic and scallions, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until softened. Don't let them color. Scrape into the bread and fold to combine. Drain the plumped currants and fold in. Dribble the chicken stock or lightly salted water over the salad and fold again. Taste a few pieces of bread-a fairly saturated one and a dryish one. If it is bland, add salt, pepper, and/or a few drops of vinegar, then toss well. Since the basic character of bread salad depends on the bread you use, these adjustments can be essential. Pile the bread salad in a 1-quart baking dish and tent with foil; set the salad bowl aside. Place the salad in the oven after you flip the chicken the final time.
- Finishing and serving the chicken and bread salad:
- Remove the chicken from the oven and turn off the heat. Leave the bread salad to continue warming for another 5 minutes or so. Lift the chicken from the roasting pan and set on a plate. Carefully pour the clear fat from the roasting pan, leaving the lean drippings behind. Add about a tablespoon of water to the hot pan and swirl it. Slash the stretched skin between the thighs and breasts of the chicken, then tilt the bird and plate over the roasting pan to drain the juice into the drippings. Set the chicken in a warm spot (which may be your stovetop), and leave to rest while you finish the bread salad. The meat will become more tender and uniformly succulent as it cools.
- Set a platter in the oven to warm for a minute or two. Tilt the roasting pan and skim the last of the fat. Place over medium-low heat, add any juice that has collected under the chicken, and bring to a simmer. Stir and scrape to soften any hard golden drippings. Taste-the juices will be extremely flavorful.
- Tip the bread salad into the salad bowl. (It will be steamy-hot, a mixture of soft, moist wads, crispy-on-the-outside-but-moist-in-the-middle wads, and a few downright crispy ones.) Drizzle and toss with a spoonful of the pan juices. Add the greens, a drizzle of vinaigrette, and fold well. Taste again.
- Cut the chicken into pieces, spread the bread salad on the warm platter, and nestle the chicken in the salad.
Tips:
- Using a digital scale to measure ingredients ensures accuracy and consistency in your baking.
- Chilling the dough before shaping and baking helps develop its flavor and gluten structure, resulting in a better rise and texture.
- Ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature before baking. An accurate oven temperature is crucial for achieving the desired results.
- Use a Dutch oven or a baking cloche to create a humid environment during baking, which helps develop a crisp crust and a soft, chewy interior.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing and serving. This allows the flavors to develop and the texture to set.
Conclusion:
Zuni bread, with its distinctive crumb, crisp crust, and sourdough tang, is a beloved bread that can be enjoyed in various ways. Whether you prefer it toasted with butter, used for sandwiches, or simply savored on its own, this bread is sure to impress. The provided recipe offers detailed instructions and helpful tips to guide you through the process of creating this delicious and versatile bread. Remember to use high-quality ingredients, follow the steps carefully, and allow the bread to develop its full flavor through proper fermentation and baking techniques. Happy baking!
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