Isonka Samanzi (Steamed Bread)
You are not south African if you don’t know about this bread:-)Today I’m bringing to you one of the South African’s favourite traditional breads, with a little bit of twist. Isonka Samanzi is what we call this bread in my mother tongue, which is Isixhosa, however other South Africans call it Ujeqe, Umkhupha or Idombolo but these all mean Steamed Bread (in English).
Equipment
- 1 30cm Enamel Basin https://shop.andiswaskitchen.com/product-category/enamel/
- 1 20cm Enamel Bowl https://shop.andiswaskitchen.com/product-category/enamel/
- Stand mixer see notes
- 24cm Pot
Ingredients
- 450 g Cake Flour read instructions (no. 5) before starting
- 300 ml Water lukewarm
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Instant Yeast
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
- 200 g Caster Sugar
- Butter for greasing the bowl
Instructions
- Weigh all the ingredients and sieve flour. Set aside
- In a measuring jug, mix lukewarm water and oil.
- In a stand mixer with a dough hook, add flour, sugar and yeast then mix. After Add salt and mix.
- Pour in the liquid ingredients, start kneading on low speed until the dough is roughly mixed (between level 1 and 2) then increase the speed, knead for 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
- Add extra 50g of cake flour, then knead on high speed (4 to 5) for 3 to 4 minutes. Start slow first to incorporate the flour.
- Transfer the dough into a greased (with oil) 30cm bowl.
- Cover with cling wrap. Let the dough rise for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Grease a 20cm enamel bowl with butter, shape the dough into a ball, place it into the butter-greased bowl and let it rise again for 30 minutes.
- Add about 2 cups of water into a large-enough pot (let it boil), and place the enamel bowl with the dough inside. Cover the pot with the lid.
- Steam the bread for an hour or until it is well done.
- Allow the bread to cool completely (and wash your hands before taking it out of the bowl and cutting it).
- Serve with stew or eat it with butter and tea. Enjoy:-)
Video
Notes
- Watch the video to see my 7 secrets to this bread.
- See steamed buns recipe to knead by hands.