I now publicly admit that I like watching the British Baking Show. One episode, the contestants where challenged to make a braided bread, and several of them made savory ones. I thought to myself that you could fairly easily make a low-fat vegan braided bread. I made mine with whole wheat bread, but you could just as easily make it with white bread. If you do, use a recipe that makes just one loaf.
3 cups wheat flour (or 1 1/2 each wheat and white)
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp powder milk
1 1/2 Tbsp molasses, brown sugar or white sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp margarine or olive oil
1 tsp active dry yeast
I just throw all the ingredients into a bread maker and set it to the pizza dough setting. If you don't have a bread maker, measure out the warm water (110-120 Degrees F) and add the yeast, oil and sweetening agent. Let it sit while you mix up the dry ingredients. Mix 1 cup of the dry ingredients into the liquid yeast mixture and mix on low until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Mix at a higher level for 2 minutes. Add additional flour a little at a time. When all the dry ingredients are added, switch to a dough hook and mix on medium for 5 minutes. Take out the dough hook, spray with cooking spray. Let the dough rise until about double, (about 1 hour).
Meanwhile cook up the filling.
2 garlic cloves, minced
Heat a small amount of olive oil in a wok. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Add the grated carrot and cook until the carrot wilts. Add any leftover vegetables (I used and some leftover baked potato, corn, and green beans) and the sundried tomatoes. Cook until heated through. Add the spices and stir and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
Punch down the dough and let sit for 5 minutes. Then roll it into a long oval (about the length of the cookie sheet you are using). Spray a the cookie sheet with cooking spray, and place the oval of dough on the pan. Use a sharp knife to make cuts about 1 inch wide and 2-3 inches long all along both sides of the oval. Spoon the vegetables onto the uncut middle of the dough. Fold the cut strips of dough over the vegetables, one side and then then other, and then tuck in the dough at the ends.
Set the oven to 350 degrees, and while it is heating let the braided bread rise for 30 minutes.
If you are not so worried about being vegan, beat up one egg and brush it on the top of the loaf. (this is primarily cosmetic, and won't affect the taste) Bake for 25 minutes. Slice and serve.
I like to serve this will some simple white sauce (as it tends to be a little dry without some kind of sauce). Or you could serve it with some pre-prepared spaghetti sauce to pour on top or use for dipping.