Tri-Colour Plaited Loaf

Tri-Colour Plaited Loaf

A delicious loaf that looks amazing when you cut into it, revealing the colours. You can experiment with other natural food dyes like turmeric or beetroot to mix it up!

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour (plus extra for dusting)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp fast action dried yeast
• 300ml warm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 50g spinach
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp water

1. In a food processor, blitz the spinach until it resembles a paste.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
3. Pour in the water and olive oil and bring together into a dough.
4. Transfer to your worktop and knead a little until it all comes together in a ball.
5. Divide the dough equally into 3 (it is best to weigh your dough here to be accurate!)
6. To one ball, add the spinach and knead until it is full incorporated and smooth (you may need to add a little flour to stop it getting too sticky as the spinach adds moisture)
7. To another ball, add the tomato paste and paprika and knead until fully incorporated and smooth (again, you may need a dusting of flour)
8. To the final ball, leave it plain but knead it until smooth.
9. Place the 3 balls in oiled bowls and cover. Leave in a warm place for an hour or until doubled in size. 
10. Punch down the dough and roll each colour into a long even rope around 40cm in length. 
11. Line each rope next to each other, and starting from the middle, plait the ropes over and under, pinching together at the end, and repeating on the other side. 
12. Tuck the ends of the rope under the loaf, and transfer to a lined baking tray. 
13. Cover and leave to rise again for an hour.
14. Meanwhile pre-heat the oven to 200 C (fan)
15. Beat the egg yolk with the tbsp of water, and using a pastry brush, egg wash the loaf, making sure to get in every nook. 
16. Bake the loaf for 30 minutes until golden and shiny. 
17. Leave to cool for a few minutes before cutting and serving!
18. Enjoy!