Eating bread is really addictive. One can never have enough. It’s simply delicious and it enriches any food it is served along with. Bread is divine, indeed. And people consume it all around the world and spice it up, or cook it according to their local customs and using their traditional ingredients. Discovering different types of bread from all around the world is an experience meant to succeed, under any circumstances. So let’s take a look at 7 types of bread you should definitely taste.
The most loved and savored food garnish throughout the world, bread is an old food dating back to the Neolithic era. Generally made from wheat-flour dough, bread can also comprise of various wheat species, such as rye, barley, maize and oats.
# 1. Naan, India
Actually this oven-baked flatbread can be found all over Southeast Asia. It is best enjoyed with butter or ghee while still hot enough to melt it. The beauty of naan is that it can be topped, stuffed or infused with just about anything that crosses one’s mind, from herbs to seeds to pumpkin to cheese to spicy mashed potatoes.
# 2. Pão de Queijo, Brazil
These are actually Brazilian cheese buns found throughout several countries in Latin America. Made from cassava, also known as tapioca or corn flour, they are gluten-free, making them an ideal bread to serve not only at a large family gathering, but also to any nutrition addict. Eggs help the dough fluff up as it bakes. This type of bread doesn’t use yeast or any other leavening agent. So it’s delicious and healthy at the same time. What an encouraging food-paradox.
# 3. Challah, Jewish bread
This braided egg bread is traditionally served on the Sabbath and holidays in order to commemorate the manna that fell from heaven and fed the Jews during their exodus from Egypt. It’s gently sweetened and turns golden brown after being baked. It sometimes contains raisins into the dough and the surface is topped with sesame or poppy seeds.
# 4. Pizza bianca, Italy
This type of bread is typical all over Italy, it is only called pizza bianca in Rome and of course the way that it is made and the way that it tastes is different in every region. It is wonderful on its own and can also be filled with whatever one may want.
# 5. Fougasse and Fougassette, France
These are traditional breads that originated in the city of Nice and its surrounding villages. The fougasse was originally a crusty bread made of baguette dough brushed with olive oil and flavored with orange zest, that is still the tradition, however many fougasse breads have tremendously changed recognition, as they now come with a wide variety of recipes. The most popular fougasse breads include black olives and or anchovies and some may include onions.
# 6. Bialy, Poland
The bialy was developed in Bialystok, Poland and its name is short for bialystoker kuchen, mening Bialystok cake. It is a large, flat, chewy yeast roll, up to six inches in diameter, which is baked. The bialy has a depression in the middle that is typically filled with chopped onions and poppy seeds prior to baking. It is most often eaten as it is or spread with butter.
# 7. Pan de Muertos, Mexico
This sweet egg bread is usually laced with anise or orange flower water and decorated with a skull and crossbones and is is eaten during Mexico’s Day of the Dead, on November 1st and 2nd. Should you want to eat this on any other day, try omitting the decorative skulls.
I must admit the fact that I’m already drooling. I’m going for some bread now. Bon appetit to you, too!