Ambrosia: Brazilian bread with dried fruit

Ambrosia

Also known by a different Brazilian term, this Brazilian bread is made fresh with dried fruit inside to enhance its flavor.  The most distinguishable feature of the bread is its braid like shape and structure which is very unique. The bread is very light colored on the inside, just like regular white bread. However the top of the bread is a lot darker. You will surely notice a difference in the color between the outside and the inside.

The bread is very light in both texture and taste and I would recommend eating it with something on top to add moisture. I tried some for the first time a week ago and had Brazilian cream cheese on top of it.

I discovered that Brazilian cream cheese on top of the Brazilian bread was a good match because the two flavors mix very well together. I am quite accustomed now though to be eating Brazilian or other bread with Nutella in the morning, which I have a weakness for, but hey, who doesn’t?

To talk more about the actual bread, there are raisins inside of the bread which add a nice texture and moisture to the bread, which it definitely needs. As far as what other fruit is inside of the bread, that is very hard to tell. The only thing I could definitely taste when I had it was raisins, which I like very much.

In addition to the raisins inside, there is a creamy texture that covers the top of the bread. Infused within the “cream” or whatever it is, I’m not really sure, are coconut shavings which add to the delicious flavor. There are probably many different ways to make this, however the one  I tried I know was purchased in a Brazilian supermarket.

Here is a picture of what Ambrosia looks like:
http://ambrosiasoulfulcooking.blogspot.com/2013/09/brazilian-fruit-bread-egg-less.html  

Here is a recipe I found for Ambrosia:

Ingredients

·         2 cups all purpose flour

·         ½ cup milk (plus a tablespoon more if needed)

·         2 tablespoons sugar

·         2 tablespoons olive oil

·         1 ¼ teaspoon instant yeast

·         ½ teaspoon salt

·         ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

·         ½ teaspoon nutmeg powder

·         1 tablespoon raisins

·         2 figs chopped finely

·         5 dried apricots chopped finely

·         1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

·         5 almonds chopped finely

·         Milk wash

·         2 tablespoons sugar dissolved in 2 tablespoons warm milk

Method

1.      Heat milk till very hot. Add sugar and stir till sugar dissolves. Let it cool.

2.      Toss the chopped fruits and nuts in one tablespoon of flour.

3.      Whisk together remaining flour and salt. Add olive oil. Mix well.

4.      Add powdered cinnamon and nutmeg to flour.

5.      Add instant yeast to the luke warm milk. Cover and keep for 15 minutes. It should turn frothy

6.      Add milk mix to flour and knead for 6 to 8 minutes to get soft dough.

7.      Add more warm milk if the dough feels tight.

8.      Stretch the dough in the kneading plate and sprinkle dry fruits and nuts.

9.      Knead for another 5 minutes. Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes.

10.  Knead again for 2 to 3 minutes. Divide the dough into three parts.

11.  Make a braid as shown in the picture. Cover and keep it to rise for one hour.

12.  Coat the risen braid with milk wash using a brush

13.  Bake in a pre heated oven at 190 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cover with a foil if the bread turns brown and there is still some time left.

14.  Remove from the oven and cool in the rack. Slice when cold.