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Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

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Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking:

A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe

– Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread –

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Today’s post is tinged with some sadness; my recipe today is for Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread, and it has been made by way of a condolence message for my good friend Zuri (Zuretha) who lost her husband Gideon last week. Such is the power of the internet that on-line friendships can be made (and sadly broken too) and some of you may find this strange when I say that I have not actually met Zuri, in the flesh so to speak! I have spoken to her on-line, via forums, Facebook and other messengering services, we have written to each other and exchanged gifts and cards, and I have also spoken to her on the phone, but I have never met her in a physical sense. But, as is so often the case, we “clicked” the very first time we “met” each other and although I have not been in such constant contact recently,we still exchanged a regular greeting or comment on-line. It was last week that Zuri posted on her Facebook wall that her husband had died, and I was very upset  (as I have also spoken to him on the phone too)…….There is a “cook-a-thon” in Gideon’s memory on a major American food site, so I joined in and this is what I made, Zuri’s amazing, and I mean amazing, Picnic Bread.

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Zuri is a fascinating person, she is an author of several books, some in Afrikaans as well as English and also a cookbook; she is part of the Stellenbosch Writers Group and was also the food editor of a major South African magazine. One of the strong bonds that links us so firmly as friends, is the fact that I was born in South Africa, so we have lots in common. We were both born in the Western Cape – I was born near the sea in the Cape, Wynberg, and we lived in Fish Hoek, but Zuri comes from the stunning Hex RiverValley, where lots of the grapes for the South African wine industry are grown. I have shared some of Zuri’s stunning photos of her homeland below…..

Hex River Valley

Hex River Valley: Image Zuretha Roos

Hex Valley

Hex River Valley: Image Zuretha Roos

Vinyards in the Hex Valley

Vinyards in the Hex River Valley: Image Zuretha Roos

……and as I said, I was born and lived near the sea……

Fish Hoek

Fish Hoek: Image Cape Town Travel

Fish Hoek Beach

Fish Hoek Beach

……But back to today’s recipe! I made the recipe for Zuri’s Picnic Bread two days ago, and we have enjoyed it for breakfast two days running now, with freshly boiled eggs, a pot of tea and some slices of ham. The texture is moist and almost “pudding like”, but it is NOT heavy at all, and this quick bread recipe is JUST packed with flavour. I LOVE the cheesy taste, there’s a lot of cheese (and eggs) in this recipe, and I can see why fishermen would have taken it out with them, as it’s packed full of protein and would have made a very filling snack. Zuri’s original recipe was double the quantities I have shared today, and I have also had to convert it to metric, as the recipe I was following was posted on an American site, and was in US cups. However, as you can see from the photos, the bread came out amazingly well with a rich yellow colour thanks to the cheese AND my hen’s eggs too.

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

I have made many of Zuri’s recipes in the past, and I have three of her books – The Saffron Pear Tree and Other Kitchen Memories, Sea spray and cherry peppers (both kindly sent to me by Zuri and signed for me!) as well as her fabulous cookbook Roast Duck on Sunday – a book packed with homely recipes, South African and also French inspired. I hope you have all enjoyed your brief excursion to South Africa today, PLEASE DO try this recipe and let me know what you think of it, as I am sure Zuri would love to know too……that’s it for today, have a wonderful Sunday and I will see you soon with MORE recipes, some reviews and a new giveaway! Karen 

NB: MY adapted recipe for this recipe is shared below. 

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Print recipe
Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread
Serves 12 slices
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 45 minutes
Total time 55 minutes
Allergy Egg, Milk, Wheat
Meal type Bread, Breakfast, Lunch, Side Dish, Snack, Starter
Misc Child Friendly, Freezable, Serve Cold
Occasion Barbecue, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentines day
Region African
By author Zuretha Roos - adapted by Karen S Burns-Booth
A very cheesy quick bread that also has spring onions, bacon and chilli sauce in it; this recipe makes one large loaf and it's so moist and full of flavour. The recipe comes from my friend Zuri, who is South African, and is an old South African recipe that was favoured by fishermen for their packed lunch, as well as school children, and of course it makes perfect picnic fare.

Ingredients

  • 275g plain flour
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I used rapeseed oil)
  • 1 teaspoon chilli sauce
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 large free-range eggs
  • 125g smoked lardons (or diced back bacon)
  • 350g mature Farmhouse Cheddar cheese, grated
  • 8 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons buttermilk

Note

A very cheesy quick bread that also has spring onions, bacon and chilli sauce in it; this recipe makes one large loaf and it's so moist and full of flavour. The recipe comes from my friend Zuri, who is South African, and is an old South African recipe that was favoured by fishermen for their packed lunch, as well as school children, and of course it makes perfect picnic fare.

Directions

Step 1 Pre-heat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/375F/Gas 5
Step 2 Grease a 2lb bread/loaf tin.
Step 3 Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl until amalgamated. DO NOT pre-cook the bacon, as it cooks in the bread and provides moisture and adds to the flavour.
Step 4 Pour or spoon the bread batter into the prepared tin and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 40 to 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the bread.
Step 5 Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 6 Makes 12 slices, and is just as good 2 or 3 days after baking. Store wrapped in aluminium foil in a cool place, but preferably not the fridge.
Step 7 Freezes very well.
Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe - Zuri's South African Picnic Bread

Sunday Baking: A Beautiful Easy Quick Bread Recipe – Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread

Zuri's Picnic Loaf 2

Zuri’s Picnic Loaf

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Comments

  1. Dominic says

    that’s better!… what a glorious and sunny bread… LOVE this recipe and it just looks so healthy and happy and full of sunshine… really missed your blogs, loads to catch up on!

    Reply

  2. Deena Kakaya says

    Hi Karen. Sad news about your friends loss and so touching that you found a bond with someone so far away, through Virtual contact. The bread looks beautiful, reminds me of Gujarati handvo. I can certainly see why you’ve called it picnic bread. X

    Reply

    • Karen says

      Thanks so much Deena, and yes, picnic bread seems to be a good name for this bread! I would love to see a recipe for Gujarati handvo, do you have one on your blog? Karen

      Reply

  7. The Kitchenmaid says

    Karen, that’s such a lovely story (albeit a sad one) and what amazing photos! I love the sound of this bread, I think it would be an excellent packed lunch option for the desk slaves among us and also great for picnics (if we ever get some picnic weather!) I’ll have to ask my SA friends if they’ve got her cookbooks.

    Reply

    • Karen says

      Thanks so much Lucy, and it is the MOST divine bread, really easy to make and with great ingredients! DO see if any of your SA friends have her books, she also published other books too. Karen

      Reply

  9. dragonfly63 says

    Sorry to hear of the reason for the recipe appearing but thanks for another interesting and tasty addition to the picnic basket.

    Reply

    • Karen says

      Thanks so much, hope the post wasn’t too sad, it was supposed to be a celebration of Gideon’s life through one of Zuri’s recipes……..and it IS a fabulous bread recipe too!

      Reply

  12. Caroline says

    Dear Karen, I am sorry for your and your friends great loss. Zuri’s recipe is it buttered or served as it is? Best wishes, Caroline

    Reply

  16. Madeleine Morrow says

    What a beautifully written and deeply moving story. Thanks for letting us know about Zuri at this difficult time in her life. I would very much like to see her cookbooks and will look out for them when I am in SA later in the year. The recipe looks wonderful, too. Will give it a go.

    Reply

    • Karen says

      I should imagine it would be wonderful for picnics! I have several French savoury cake recipes, and this is a lot different funnily enough, the texture is different and the recipe uses more eggs than the French recipes too.

      Reply

  22. fiona maclean says

    It’s a great looking bread! I don’t suppose I will ever make it…maybe I’ll just pop on the train and come over;)

    what a nice way to send condolences to your friend too

    Reply

  24. gemma clark says

    oooh my friend is from south africa and her family are all over for her wedding right now..might have to try this and see what they think!

    Reply

  27. Louisa Foti says

    Oh what a lovely but sad post Karen, and I’m sure Zuri will be deeply touched by it. It’s funny how friendships have evolved over the internet these days, and it’s one of the wonders of our generation. Gorgeous recipe too, and one I’m about to Pin!

    Reply

  30. ManjiriK says

    what a beautiful post Karen ! very touching , am so sorry for zuri’s loss ..
    I will certainly be making this bread and your photos took me to sunnier climates if only for a few minutes.Cheers! Manjiri

    Reply

  33. Laura Vitty says

    Looks yummy! I’d love to get into artisan bread making… another for when I have more time I think 🙂 x

    Reply

  39. Gail Bennett says

    Mmmm … this sounds yummy! Brings back memories of South Africa (I used to live over there) … must give this recipe a try! 🙂

    Reply

  41. Kim W says

    So sorry to hear about Zuri’s husband. Her recipe lives on through you and it looks delicious. I am amazed as I thought it would have yeast in. As I am wheat, oats, gluten and yeast intolerant and more (including rapeseed, but can replace that), it is refreshing to find something which hasn’t got these included. I can easily replace the flour with one of my own, the problem usually arises because of the yeast. Thanks for the post. Look forward to trying it.

    Reply

  42. Robin says

    Thanks for share. I really excited to read this blog. I am also from chef background and love to enjoy reading and learning new things.

    Reply

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