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POLAR BREAD
Polar bread, or Polarkaka, is a soft, round flatbread that hails from northern Sweden, a region known for its frigid climate and hearty cuisine. Baked with wholesome ingredients like spelt flour, fennel, and anise and infused with a touch of sweetness from organic Australian honey, polar bread is beloved for its soft, chewy texture and versatility.
This bread is a popular choice for sandwiches in Sweden, where its round shape and mild flavour complement a wide variety of toppings. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a cosy Nordic-inspired snack, polar bread offers a taste of Swedish comfort in every bite.
1. MIX THE DOUGH
Put the yeast from bag a into a bowl and dissolve in lukewarm (37 degrees) water. It is important that the water is not warmer then this, as if the water is too hot, it could kill the yeast.
Add the flour from bag i, and then bag j and the yoghurt.
2. KNEAD THE DOUGH
Knead everything into a smooth dough for 5 minutes in a mixer or 8 minutes by hand.
If kneading by hand, keep in mind this is a slightly sticky dough. So keep a bowl of water next to you, and dip your fingers in the water before kneading to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.
How to knead: Push down on the dough with the palm of your hand then grab the top corner of the dough and pull it down in a circular movement and repeat. Do this until the dough is smooth, elastic.
3. LET THE DOUGH RISE
Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rise until it doubles in size, about 45-60 minutes, the time depends on the temperature of your kitchen.
4. DIVIDE THE DOUGH
Divide the dough in 16 pieces. Then roll each piece into a ball, and place them under a tea towel. Take one piece at the time and roll it out flat, until it is 1cm thick.
You can use a bowl that has the right with too meassure and shape it in a perfect round shape, by placing the bowl on top of the flat dough, and gently shape the dough. The circles,should be about 13–14 cm in diameter.
5. LET THE LOAVES REST & RISE
Preheat the oven to 250°C.
Then use a fork or a skewer to prick the bread cake. Make sure to prick it all the way through and all over. Make sure to prick the bread thoroughly! If you miss this, the bread will puff up like bread rolls. They will still be tasty, but in this case we are aiming for a flatter result. Repeat with all of the dough pieces.
Place the circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Let them rise under a kitchen towel for about 30 minutes.
6. IF IT IS A COLD DAY
Put the bread cakes in a cold oven, then place a cup of boiling water in the bottom of the oven and close the oven. This creates a little steam room for your loaves and will make them rise faster.
7. BAKE YOUR BREAD
Bake the bread in the middle of the oven for 6–10 minutes. Let them cool on a wire rack under a kitchen towel.
This bread is perfect for freezing and having fresh bread daily. Just freeze the bread as soon as it has cooled, then take a piece out and heat it in the microwave as needed. This way, it will taste freshly baked every time.
Enjoy! Now, enjoy the delight of your homemade Polar bread!