Plaited Chicken Bread

This beautiful looking bread is the most simple and delicious bread i have ever tried.Its a fool proof recipe.As many times i have tried this it came out very well.Though it looks complicated its super easy to make.I always have a great feeling baking this bread.i remember eating this type of bread from Vac's bakery in  Tirumalghiri here.I was very doubtful to try this "complicated"looking bread when i saw it in yummyoyummy blog.But the picture was so tempting that i decided to give it a try.It was a sweet version given there but i changed the filling since we like it the "chicken way":).AND...voilaaaa....it was a super duper hit i must say.Thereafter i have made it many times.My husband says it tastes like calzone and he skips dinner  whenever i make them..Its delicious and filling.His ("possitive"....;))expressions and reactions always motivate me to experiment new dishes everytime..thanks hubby:).

The recipe and method may seem bit lenghty time consuming.Only time consuming process is the dough raising part.Rest is easy.Do give a try and let me know your experience.Now of to the recipe.

Recipe for plaited chicken bread

Ingredients

For the bread

1. All purpose flour - 2.5 cup
2. butter - 1/4 cup
3. egg - 1
4. castor sugar - 1/4 cup
5. lukewarm water - 1/4 cup
6. yeast - 1tbsp
7. lukewarm milk - 1/4 cup
8. egg - 1 for eggwash

For the filling

1. chicken - 1and1/2 cup(boiled and shredded)
2. butter - 2 tbsp
3. onion - 2 large
4. pepper powder -1tsp
5. ginger garlic paste - 1tsp
6. greenchillies - 2 nos
7. salt - 1 tsp
8. corriander leaves - a bunch
9. garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
10. soyasauce - 1tbsp(optional)
11. maida - 2 tbsp
12. butter - 2 tbsp
13. milk - 1/2 cup

METHOD

• soak yeast in lukewarm water and keepaside for 15-20 minutes to rise
• in a large bowl mix  together egg ,sugar, butter ,milk and salt.
• add in the yeast mixture and mix well
• gradually add in the flour and knead to form a soft dough
• knead for few minutes to obtain a smooth and elastic dough
• put the kneaded dough in a clean bowl and keep it covered in a warm place to rise for about 2 hrs
•  mean while you can make the filling

Method for chicken filling

• heat a pan and add butter .saute onion till golden brown
• add green chillies and ginger galic paste and saute for few minutes
• add in the flour ,salt,garam masala,and pepper powder and saute for few seconds
• add in milk and mix well
• cook till the mixture becomes thick.
• now add in the boiled chicken pieces followed by corriander leaves and cook for few minutes till everything gets mixed well.
• finally add in saoya sauce and mix well
• switch off the flame

• Once the dough is raised puch down the dough and knead on a floured surface
• divide the flour into two or three depending on the size of bread you want to make
• then roll out each part of divided dough into a rectangle depending on the size of your baking tray.
• grease the baking tray and transfer the rolled dough to the tray
• place the  chicken filling on the centre of the dough as shown in the pic
• with a knife cut either side of the filling as shown above
• for the plaited pattern start from  bringing the topmost  slit ends across each other alternately
• continue this crisscross pattern till the bottom 
• tuck in the excess dough underneath
• preheat the oven at 375 F or 190 degrees.brush the dough on top with the eggwash
• And now bake for 25- 30 minutes.keep checking your bread after 20 minutes due to your  oven differences.
• remove from oven and cool it
• and now slice and enjoy :)))))))

Notes

• you can divide the dough to 2 or 3 parts to make medium sized breads
• by the time i preheated my oven my dough again rose and hence the bread has a bigger shape