Pignola

Ingredients

  • 1 cup golden raisins
  • 2 oranges, grated zest and juice
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, diced
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons tepid water
  • 1 package yeast
  • 1 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Method

  • Soak raisins, zest and juice overnight.
  • Mix flour and salt in mixer bowl. Add butter and mix until butter is broken and distributed through flour. Add yeast and mix.
  • Add eggs to orange juice mixture and add to flour mixture. Mix on low speed until dough comes together. Change to dough hook and knead with mixer for about 5 minutes adding more flour if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time until pliable but not sticky.
  • Place in bowl and cover. Allow to rise until double for about 3 hours or overnight in the rifrigerator.
  • Turn out the risen dough onto a floured work surface. Gentle knead in the almonds until they are well distributed.
  • Shape the dough into a round and then pat into a disk about 1 1/2 inches thick and 8 inches in diameter. Place on a prepared baking sheet.
  • Place baking sheet into a plastic bag and inflate. Allow to rise until double in size about 1 hour (longer if dough has been in the refrigerator).
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375F. When dough has risen place in oven for about 35 mionutes to bake unil golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Transfer to a wire rack and dust with powdered sugar. Let cool.

Notes

  • Description:
  • "A wonderful Italian breakfast bread."
  • SERVINGS: 1
  • SOURCE: Linda Collister