Braided spinach bread

So now when I have tried my hands on bread couple of times and started getting bored of baking same kind I did the spinach bread. Another reason was to use the spinach I had lying in my kitchen.

Since I have started baking my own bread I feel it takes less effort than going down to nearby bakery to buy one. Yes believe me once you start doing so you would realize so much easy it is and gives you control on whats goes in your bread. No colors and preservatives to startwith. Mostly when I don't want to spend time cooking breakfast in the morning I bake it on previous night ready to be eaten in breakfast next day. 

I braided it to give a different look . I did't have a big loaf pan so used a baking tray. Try using a loaf pan if you have one as it retains the shape and prevents flattening . That only changes the look , taste remains same so this is optional. Also though mostly I only use whole wheat flour but for this one I used some white flour too. If you want replace that with wholewheat flour go ahead. Using white flour makes it lighter while wholewheat one are little dense. I prefer wholewheat .So here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:

1.5 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup white flour

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

3/4 cup water

1 cup finely chopped spinach

1 table spoon oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon salt

Recipe:

Warm water in a bowl. Add yeast and honey and keep aside for 5 minutes for yeast to proof. Take the flours in a bwl. Keep 1/2 cup aside for dusting. Add oil, salt, spinach and yeast. Mix it together with a wooden spatula. I have a hand blender with kneading hooks so used that but hands work fine as well. It will be sticky initially so don't worry start adding flour gradually kneading to bring it together. Sprinkle flour on clean surface and transfer the dough there. Continue kneading till it make a nice and smooth ball. Add more flour if you still find it sticky. Meanwhile preheat oven to 240C or wharever is the maximum range . Grease a bowl and put dough in it. Roll it over to ensure its covered in oil and doesnt dry out. Cover with thin kitchen cloth and let it rest inside oven for an hour. It will be doubled in size as below: 

Make sure oven is off. We arent ready to bake it yet! After it has doubled up, transfer again to work surface and knead for sometime to remove all excess air. This will take 4-5 minutes. Grease the pan with oil . Shape it as desired. I divided into two parts and braided them together. Now place on baking tray and once again leave it in preheated oven to rise. This would take around 30 minutes.

Finally preheat oven to 180c and bake for 30-40 minutes. It will sound hollow on knocking on top which is a sign of its being ready.

Enjoy warm with some butter or use in any other recipe calls for bread.