Neapolitan Easter

One product of this disturbing lockdown is that many people have been baking, if they have been lucky enough to get hold of any flour. On Instagram and Facebook I have seen some excellent and very professional efforts at baking bread. On a tropical Good Friday I decided to throw my hat into the ring by making a bread that is known in Italy, especially Naples, as a savoury Easter Treat. The usual process is to make a circular bread with a hole in and fill it with ham, hard-boiled eggs and some cheese.

The ingredients for my take on this bread were:

6 slices of Prosciutto cut into small squares. 

8 ounces of Chilli Cheese cut into small cubes. 

6 sprigs of Rosemary 

6 cups of Wholemeal Bread Flour

1 sachet of Yeast 

0.1 litres of Olive Oil 

2 cups water

On the player was Roy Orbison's final and greatest studio album "Mystery Girl" produced by the great Jeff Lynne and featuring songs by stars such as Elvis Costello, Bono and the Edge. It finds the Big O in typically engaging voice with many of the songs coming up to the quality of his memorable and long run of 1960s hit singles. I first heard the record while riding in my Dad's aged Fiat Uno as he and my mum transported me to play some junior cricket for a Peak District Team in the summer of '94. The album has stuck with me ever since. 

The method for this recipe was as follows: 

1. Combine the flour, yeast and Rosemary in a mixing bowl.

2. Gradually add the Olive Oil.

3. Then add the Cheese and Prosciutto pieces. 

4. Then add the water until all the ingredients are mixed together.to form a ball. 

5. Knead into a flat circle.
6. Punch a hole in the middle.

7. Leave in the refrigerator for 2 hours then get out for 45 minutes and bake on Gas Mark 5 for 45 minutes before serving hot or cold. 

The results of this project gave a bread that was slightly crunchy on the outside yet moist and very rich and flavoursome on the inside.