What is Ham Bread?
Ham Bread is a special bread filled with ham, olives, and raisins that is prepared especially during the Christmas season. According to Rafael Cartay in his Dictionary of Venezuelan Cuisine, it is the typical Venezuelan Christmas bread. Its incorporation into the Christmas menu occurred gradually since the first decade of the 20th century, when, it was created in a bakery in the center of Caracas. Cartay establishes it was made for the first time around 1905 in a Caracas bakery run by foreigners. Little by little it became established as a traditional bread.
INGREDIENTS:
Flour 2 1/4 cup
Water 8.5 fl oz
Yeast 1/4 oz
Butter 3/4 cup
Sugar 3/4 cup
Eggs 2
Salt 2 1/2 teaspoons
Smoked Ham 1 pound
Bacon 1/2 cup
Raisins 3/4 cup
Olives 3/4 cup
First mix in a bowl a little water, sugar, 2 tsp of flour, and the yeast, cover, and let it rest for one hour in order to activate the yeast until it forms bubbles. Then mix the rest of the water, melted butter, one egg, and the rest of the flour until it creates a smooth dough. Let it rest in a covered bowl for 15 min. The ingredients are for two breads, before extending the dough the dough has to be divided into two pieces. Now extend the dough flat with a rolling pin and add on top the rest of the ingredients (ham, bacon, raisins, and olives), roll the dough, and let it rest covered with a kitchen towel for 2 hours over a tray with wax paper. Should wait until it is raised twice or three times its size. Preheat the oven to 330 F for 20 minutes. Then brush the top with egg and put it in the oven for 45 minutes.
Did you know that Pan de Jamón was born in Venezuela? This dish is part of our Christmas gastronomy, which cannot be missed to accompany the typical hallaca dish and chicken salad. Here we show you a little about the history of the famous Ham Pan to increase your gastronomic culture.
