Sticky Rice Bread

One TV show that I was recently sad to see ending was Downton Abbey. For a glorified soap opera about the lives of the exceedingly rich, I actually really enjoyed it. I mean, it’s no Game of Thrones (The King of the North!) but good enough to keep me emotionally invested for about 5 years and move me to tears perhaps more than once. And as much as Mary’s character annoyed me, I guess I’m glad she got a happy ending along with the rest of them.

There is one specific element of the show’s extraordinary production design that always stuck out to me. No, it’s not the lavish ballrooms in the Crawley’s house nor the elaborate table settings for their fancy dinners. It is much more minute than that but its allure would drive me insane regularly. There were many morning breakfast scenes that took place around the dining room in the servant’s quarters and in each scene a perfectly picturesque half loaf of the squishiest plushy white bread was placed atop the table.

The kind that is both dense and incredibly soft, bread that you can really sink your teeth into, bread that seems like it would be best served with a swipe of salted butter and a drizzle of honey alongside English cheeses and apples.

I specifically remember one scene where the character took a large wedge of the bread, fixed it up with butter and jam, and then was called upon so he hurried off before even taking a bite. I may or may not have been crying internal tears over that poor sad uneaten piece of bread for a long time. But let’s not talk about that moment anymore. Why? Because I no longer have to long for that bread. My dreams for it have come to fruition and for the past week I have been enjoying the tastiest morning toast and some bomb ass sandwiches thanks to a recipe for this sticky rice bread.

Despite what the title implies, this bread is not gluten free. In fact, it is full of it. However, a thick paste made of boiled glutinous rice flour and water joins the rest of the standard bread ingredients making for a final texture that is best described as stretchy. The two flours seem to join forces to create these ultra elastic strands of gluten giving the bread a very satisfying chew when soft. It kind of has that Wonder Bread appeal where the bread sticks to the roof of your mouth a bit when you take a bite. I mean this is a really good way by the way.

This all translates to toast really well in that it soaks up melted pools of butter without becoming soggy and the subtle sweetness that the rice flour gives turns into a caramelized flavor when the edges get just a little bit burnt. I obviously cannot speak highly enough of this bread and although it requires some planning ahead, more than a few steps, and an unusual ingredient that require a trip to the Korean supermarket, it is worth it. Trust me.

Never before have I been so excited about eating breakfast, and breakfast was already one of my favorite times of day. And guess what? It freezes really well so you can slice it up and pop it into some freezer bags as soon as it cools so that you can hoard this bread as long as you like and savor it at your leisure. The Crawleys can keep their fancy 7-course dinners, I’ll be down with the servants eating all of their bread, thank you very much.

Sticky Rice Bread
Makes 2 loaves
Recipe from Lady and Pups

Ingredients
1¼ cups plus 1 Tbs. sticky rice flour (Also called glutinous rice flour. You can find it at an Asian supermarket)
1 1/3 cups water
3½ cups bread flour
3 egg whites
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 1/8 tsp instant dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
1¾ Tbs. softened unsalted butter

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the rice flour and water and place over a medium heat. Stir constantly until it forms a gooey mass. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to let out some more of the heat.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the bread hook, add the bread flour, egg whites, sugar, yeast, salt and the cooled rice flour and water mixture. Mix on a low speed until the ingredients form a dough, scraping down the bowl occasionally as needed. Once it forms a solid mass of dough, increase the speed to medium high for 5 minutes.

Slow down the mixer and add half of the softened butter. Once it’s incorporated add the rest and knead again on medium-high speed for 15-20 minutes. The dough will be smooth but still pretty sticky. This is okay. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it proof at room temperature until doubled, about 1-2 hours. In the meantime line 2 large loaf pans with parchment paper.

Scrape the dough onto a floured countertop and divide in half. Then divide each half into 3 pieces, dusting with flour as needed. Roll the 6 pieces into long strips about the length of your loaf pan, pushing out any air bubble as you go. Take 3 of the strips and braid them together, pinching them shut at the ends. Repeat with the other 3 pieces of dough. Place the two loaves into you prepared pans and cover them very well with plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator for 12-18 hours.

Take the dough out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats to 350 degrees. Place the bread in the oven and cover them loosely with a piece of parchment paper. Bake for 25 minutes and then remove the top piece of parchment and bake for another 20 until golden. Remove from the pan and place the loaves on a cooling rack for 30 minutes before having at it.