Tuesday 18 December 2012

Finnish Pulla : 'TWD : Baking With Julia'

As far as 2012 goes, we are in the home stretch now. Your time to ponder on what you could've, should've and would've done with the year, has come and gone ... You should have already done that by now! Now, all eyes are on 2013 and all that remains for us to do is bring in the new year with hope, excitement, optimism and of course, a party!!
 
And for the last 'TWD : Baking with Julia' post of the year, the group has chosen the Finnish Pulla. The book describes it as a celebration loaf, apt for the mood of the season. In this version, it is braided into a wreath which fits in beautifully with the Christmas theme.

 
I was quite excited to try my hand at this bread because of its Finnish origin. For us in India, Scandinavia seems so far away. It's not the physical distance as much as how different  the culture, the people, the climate, the landscape and the food is compared to ours.. it all seems so different and exotic to us. And am pretty sure, the feeling is mutual from their end towards India.
 
And yet, this Finnish recipe has a tiny Indian component, cardamom. Grown in abundance in southern India, cardamom is used extensively in Indian cuisine. I reckon, the spice trade of yore was responsible to taking it to Northern Europe. My guess is that coming from so far, it must have been considered exotic and used mainly for times of celebration, such as in this pulla. Do correct me if I've got it wrong!! 

 
Much like the brioche dough that was used to make these sticky buns, this loaf is also made from an egg and butter-rich dough. Fairly simple to put together, the stand-out feature of the recipe is the addition of crushed cardamom seeds to the dough.
 
The dough performs beautifully and even clumsy fingers like mine could shape it into a wreath without much fuss.
 

Pull the bread out of the oven and you know you are onto a winner. This bread scores the maximum when it comes to its visual appeal. That beautiful, golden-brown crusted bread accompanied with the faint smell of cardamom looks so impressive that you can't help pat yourself on the back. That's the beauty of this recipe and the book that a novice like me can attempt this bread and actually pull it off!!


While the egg and butter keeps the bread soft and light, it also makes this bread a wee bit rich. It is slightly sweet tasting with the flavour of the cardamom shining through. Although a familiar flavour for me, I can well imagine the cardamom being an exotic taste for others. If you've never tried cardamom before, you are missing a good thing!! A piece of this bread would be ideal with your morning coffee!!


If you are an enthusiastic baker, keen on trying out new recipes, I'd recommend that you make this bread atleast once. It is definitely one to be added to your repertoire! 
 
Due to copyright considerations, only the person hosting the recipe for the group 'TWD:Baking with Julia' can post the recipe on their blog. The recipe for this Finnish Pulla will be available on Erin's blog. Alternately, you can write to me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com and I will mail you the recipe. 
 

40 comments:

  1. I just love your photographs!!!! So beautiful!

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  2. It is a fantastic bread! Cardamom is such a gorgeously fragrant spice, I just love it. Interesting thing about two absolute different cultures being joined by it. Lovely bread you made!

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    1. Thanks Paula!! I absolutely adore cardamom.. apart from using it in our food.. we also use it as a mouth freshener after a meal.. simply chew on the seeds from a pod and its the best natural mouth freshner that you can lay yours hands on!! try it!!

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  3. Sarvani, your Finnish Pulla looks fabulous and so impressive! You are probably right about the cardamom - it must have been such a precious and exotic spice when it was first added to this wonderful sweet dessert bread. Your photography is wonderful - as it always is and your bread does have a wonderful shape and warm, rich color. Terrific post!

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    1. Thanks Andrea!! The more I bake and try out new recipes.. its interesting to see how history and events like trade, war and migration have shaped the food that we eat today!! In fact I find it fascinating..

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  4. Wonderful photos! It's such a lovely, easy bread. It's definitely on my 2012 to do list - there's still time for another loaf or two. :)

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    1. I agree.. I didnt expect it to be such an easy bread.. and look at the final result.. impressive..isnt it?!

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  5. I never knew about his bread!!It looks so wonderful!! Thanks for sharing the recipe :)

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    1. Same here Nandita!! Was quite skeptical about it.. but it turned out such an easy bread.. everybody loved it!!

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  6. My thoughts exactly about this bread! - Indian spice in a scandanavian bread! That is a wonderful picture.

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    1. Thanks!! I love when cultures meet in food.. it makes it all so interesting!!

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  7. Lovely job with this bread! Love your wedges - I only thought to cut the bread into slices!

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    1. Thanks!! and i thought because of the round shape, I cut the cake like I would a bundt cake.. thats why the wedges.. I didnt think of the slices.. :)))

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  8. Your pulla looks wonderful. It was my first time using cardamom, and I really enjoyed it. I thought it brought a nice sweetness to the bread. I know I have eaten it in Indian dishes, but never as the star ingredient. It is funny what is considered exotic to some and an everyday spice to others.

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    1. Thanks!! like i said earlier.. we must use cardamom almost every day in our food.. but however one uses it.. it is a beautiful spice!!

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  9. Great job with this bread…it looks gorgeous!! I froze mine to serve Christmas morning!

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    1. Thanks!! Oh it would be perfect for Christmas.. its size and look.. making it almost custom-made for christmas!! :)

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  10. Love your post and the bread looks amazing! My first experience with cardamom and I totally love it! Blessings!

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  11. Your loaf is beautiful - wasn't this fun to make?

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    1. I agree.. although looking at the cake.. i would have never imagined that it would so easy!! and still can't get over how impressive the final result is!!

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  12. I agree - this was a beauiful!
    Your loaf is gorgeous.

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  13. Beautiful photos.. This bread was so delicious, definitely a keeper.. Happy holiday season..

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    1. Thanks Ferda!! And wishing you and your family.. Happy holidays!!

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  14. I think your bread turned out fantastic looking!

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  15. You totally nailed it! So neat and perfectly shaped. Great job :)

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    1. Thanks kankana... all credit to the recipe.. that even clumsy fingers like me could get it to look like this!!! :)

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  16. Lovely photography and such delicious looking bread. Can't wait to try this gluten free.

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    1. And I can't wait to see your gluten-free version of it.. :)

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  17. Your bread looks gorgeous. You are probably right about cardamom. Even though it's more widely available now, it's still precious to me! What do you generally use it for? Sweet or savory?

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    1. Sara, we use it both in savoury as well as sweet dishes.. we put it in our curries as well as desserts like add it to a rice pudding.. Its an extremeley fragrant and beautiful spice!

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  18. Beautiful photos! We loved this bread as well. Will be making it again very soon. ~Happy Holidays!

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    1. Happy holidays to you and your family too Cathleen!! :)

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