Kaatre Pão (with the cut)

'Kaatro' in Konkani language means 'cut' . Hence the Pão with a cut on top are called 'Kaatre Pão'. You also get the flat 'Kaatre Pão ' (rectangular shaped and flat with all 4 sides slightly pulled out , but they don't have a cut on top ). This one in the recipe below is the first type mentioned which is slightly hard (kadak) on the outside and soft in the inside and not having so perfect round shape (a bit elongated on both ends , this is how we get them in South Goa , about 4 inch long) . Tried baking them for the first time :) .Managed to get that crusty top and soft inside texture.
  • Passive
    1.5 hours
  • Prep
    20 minutes
  • Cook
    25 minutes
  • Servings
    8 Pc.

Ingredients

  • 3 cup All-Purpose Flour (and extra flour for dusting)
  • 2 tsp Instant Yeast
  • 1 tsp Granulated white sugar
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 3 tbsp Oil (any veg oil)
  • Warm water (for kneading dough, not hot, it will kill the yeast)

Instructions

  • 1 Knead all ingredients with about 1 1/2 cup water (Use more if required).
  • 2 Cover the bowl with a cloth and allow dough to ferment for at least 1 hour. Dough should double in size. (Depends on the climate, warmer climate will ferment the dough soon compared to colder climate which may take about 2 hours)
  • 3 Line a baking tray with parchment paper or you can directly dust your baking tray with flour. After 1 hour, divide dough into 8 pieces (I set 6 on one tray and 2 on another tray). Shape them round (left 2 pao that you see in the pic) Then shape them a little long on both ends as shown in the pic (rightmost 4 pao). Cover with cloth and allow them prove for the next 30 minutes.
  • 4 Preheat oven at 400 deg F (about 200-205 deg C). After 30 minutes, apply some water over the breads (this helps to get that crusty top). dust some flour (I used whole wheat flour to dust, you can use all-purpose flour as well) . Use a knife to make a cut on top as shown in the picture (slight cut along on top of bread and not too deep cut) .
  • 5 Put them in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes (mine got baked in 23 minutes). Allow to cool on a wire rack.
  • 6 Enjoy with your favorite Goan curry or just butter when the breads are nice and warm ! (See recipe notes below for Goan Pao and Goan Poee/Poi Recipe links).

Recipe Notes

  1. Click here for Goan Pao Recipe.
  2. Click here for Goan Poee/Poi Recipe.
  3. While kneading the dough, see that the water is warm but not hot. As hot water will tend to kill the yeast.
  4. Leave the dough to ferment for at least an hour .
  5. If you are using dry yeast, then mix yeast with the amount of sugar mentioned in recipe, 8 tbsp warm water and leave it aside to ferment for 15 mins. Then use the yeast while kneading the dough.

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