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
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: Image Zuretha Roos
Hex River Valley: Image Zuretha Roos
Vinyards in the Hex River Valley: Image Zuretha Roos
……and as I said, I was born and lived near the sea……
Fish Hoek: Image Cape Town Travel
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
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
Zuri’s South African Picnic Bread
Print recipe
| 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 |
Ingredients
- 275g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 8 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
- 350g mature Farmhouse Cheddar cheese, grated
- 125g smoked lardons (or diced back bacon)
- 4 large free-range eggs
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chilli sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I used rapeseed oil)
- 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
Zuri’s Picnic Loaf
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!
REALLY missed you too Dom but I have LOVED following you via your instagram photos!
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
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
What sad news, but a lovely way to celebrate your, very real, friendship.
Thanks Janice, and yes, it is a very real friendship as you say!
I was lucky enough to have this is South Africa, it was delicious, thank you for the recipe
I can remember having something similar too, glad you like the recipe Ursula!
So sorry for Zuri’s loss, but what a way to celebrate her husband’s memory! I’m looking forward to making and sharing this with my mother. She’ll love it!
Thanks Belinda! I thought it was a nice way to celebrate his life too…….Karen
Vale Zuri’s husband, that is sad news. Thank you for sharing this bread recipe in his honour.
Thanks Lizzy, loved this recipe! Karen
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.
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
This bread looks wonderful Karen, love the idea of chilli sauce in it and the colour is glorious. Very keen to try it. Thanks for sharing the story with us too.
Thanks Andrea, I love recipes like this and the chilli sauce really does add a piquant kick too!
Sorry to hear of the reason for the recipe appearing but thanks for another interesting and tasty addition to the picnic basket.
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!
What a gorgeous looking loaf. Sorry to hear of the reason behind it though
Thanks Alison!
Great recipe, this looks really delicious, definitely making next weekend for a leisurely breakfast. Checked out the piece in Sainsbury magazine. Great photo Karen. GG
AW thanks GG, I was pleased with my Sainsbury’s piece and photo, not usually pleased, but that was a nice feature! Karen
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
Thanks Caroline, this bread is better when not buttered as it is so rich……it is truly delicious! Karen
i love your photos. this bread sounds great!
Thanks Dina, it is a great recipe!
Sad story, but lovely tribute xx
Janie x
Thanks Janie! XXX
A sad story behind the recipe, but it does sound amazing. As soon as the nice weather comes and I go on a picnic, I am making this!
Thanks Dannii, it is an amazing recipe and I will be making it again very soon! Karen
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.
Thanks so much Madeleine, and I am sure you will be able to source Zuri’s books much more easily than in the UK!
Looks ideal for picnics, I’ve always meant to try these savoury “cakes” as the French call them.
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.
Those photographs of SA are just wonderful. The bread looks so good with the flecks of green and I love pretty much anything with chilli sauce.
Thanks Choclette, the chilli sauce really adds a piquant kick, I love it!
What an exciting looking bread. No bacon for me, but it still looks great!
Thanks Jac!
Looks great, though you know me it wouldn’t ever happen!
🙂
This picnic bread looks so pretty and very delicious almost like a savory cake. Obviously being veggie I would have to omit the bacon. Once again amazing clicks.
Thanks Nayna, this is a VERY easy recipe to make veggie and I too would omit the bacon on my non-meat days! Karen
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
Thanks Fiona! Just give me a few hours notice before you jump on the train! 🙂
Love the photos Karen! I’m still not confident enough to do my own bread and kneading drives me crazy! 😀 Sylvia xx
This is a quick bread Sylvia and needs NO kneading!
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!
Very sorry to hear about your friend’s loss Karen. Truly is a lovely and thoughtful way to commemorate her husband. Thank you for sharing this recipe and the amazing pictures of South Africa.
touching post and lovely recipe. one i will definitely be making
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!
This looks really lovely.
Lovely toasted with tangy marmalade
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
This looks yummy! Will definitely give it a try I’m always looking for new things to bake!
Looks great
Looks yummy! I’d love to get into artisan bread making… another for when I have more time I think 🙂 x
The bread sounds and looks so nive
This bread is so unusual but looks delicious – so sorry to hear of your sad news x
this looks tasy, i will definately try and make this thanks x
This looks awesome, I have a feeling this might be my baking task tomorrow 😉
I’m going to have to try this bread. It sounds delicious.
Mmmm … this sounds yummy! Brings back memories of South Africa (I used to live over there) … must give this recipe a try! 🙂
Wow that bread looks Amazing. x
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.
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.