Lammas distinguishes itself on the Wheel of the Year as a grain harvest holiday.
Making hand-baked, herbal bread from scratch is a great way to celebrate Lammas as a solitary ritual or in a circle.
Almost any common garden herb will add something magical to this bread. (sage, dill, lavender, basil, thyme, rosemary)
If you’re going to decorate the tops of the loaves with herbs bake them until just before they finish before decorating the herbs on top.
Get the best quality olive oil you can find.
You’ll taste the difference, and save some for dipping!
This bread is so delicious with a side of olive oil to dunk it in.
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 packet active dry yeast
2.5 – 3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons high quality olive oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Assorted dry, ground herbs (oregano, dill, basil and or rosemary. You can also sub Italian Seasoning).
Optional:
fresh herbs to decorate
1 tablespoon egg whites
Step 1
Mix warm water with yeast and sugar. Stir thoroughly. Allow the yeast to “activate” by leaving it to bubble, about 10 minutes.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, dry herbs, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Step 3
Add olive oil to wet ingredients. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet until mixture is no longer sticky. Knead the dough until it stretches.
Step 4
Cover the bread with a clean towel. Leave it in a sunny window and allow it to rise until it doubles in size (about 1 hour).
Step 5
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Form dough into 5 separate balls about 4″ in diameter.
Step 6
Bake 10-15 minutes.
Step 7
While bread is baking, bring a small pot of water to boil. Fill another bowl with ice water. Dip fresh herbs in boiling water for 5-10 seconds. Then dip them in ice water. Lay them flat on paper towels and put more paper towels on top. Press with a heavy skillet.
Step 8
About 3 minutes before the bread is fully cooked (just beginning to brown, but still looks raw) pull them out of the oven. Brush the tops with egg whites.
Working carefully, arrange blanched herbs on top of the egg whites on the bread, then brush more egg whites on top to “seal” them in.
Step 9
Pop the bread back in and let them finish browning.
That’s it.
You’re done!
Enjoy.
