OLIVE AND ROSEMARY CROWN
Made this with our braai last night and WOW it was delicious and an absolute compliment with the meat.
- 250 g white cake flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 7 g fast-action yeast
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 50 g butter
- 135 ml warm milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- For the filling:
- 120 g black olive tapenade
- 150 g, Danish Fetta, crumbled (blue cheese for the adventures)
- 3 tablespoon apricot jam, warmed
Put the flour, salt, yeast, dried rosemary and butter into a bowl, then rub the butter into the flour until it is like breadcrumbs.
Make a well in the center. Add the milk and egg and use your hands to bring the dough together. Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes, until stretchy and smooth. (If you are using a mixer, knead with a dough hook attached for 5 minutes.) Put back into the bowl, cover with cling film, and leave until it has doubled in size (about 1½ hours).
Line a baking tray with baking paper. Flour a work surface and tip the dough out. Knock all the air out, then roll the dough into a rectangle about 33 x 25 cm. With the long edge facing you, spread the tapenade all over the dough and crumble over the cheese.
Roll the dough up like a Swiss roll, as tightly as you can, with the seam at the bottom. With a sharp knife, cut all the way across the center, exposing the swirls and making sure you leave a couple of centimetres uncut to keep it attached at the very top. You should have what looks like an “A” that has not been crossed.
Turn the cut side out so the layers are visible and simply twist the two pieces, one over the other. Pinch the end and then join the two ends to make a circle.
Carefully place on the tray – if you lose the circle shape, now is the time to fix it – then cover with a greased sheet of cling film and leave in a warm place to prove for another 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 220° C.
When the crown has doubled in size again, uncover and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. When it is ready, place on a rack to cool.
Warm the jam in the microwave, just enough to loosen it, and brush all over the crown for a beautiful sweet sheen.
Recipe and photo: Nicolette Papas