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I find it really hard to walk past a rosemary plant without running my hand through it to release the fragrance. It doesn’t matter if the plant is in my own garden or someone else’s – just can’t resist it.
There was one especially cold, wet winter when I lost all of my rosemary plants. Disaster – no scent, and no fresh leaves to use for cooking. So, having learned from this, I’ve now gone for a ‘belt and braces’ approach to rosemary growning – plants in the ground, plants in pots sheltering against the house wall and cuttings in the greenhouse. This growing technique is based on the theory that at least some of the plants should survive, and that you can’t really have too much rosemary.
It’s a bit late for Christmas 2012, but I read last night that during the Middle Ages rosemary was spread across the floors, because it was thought that smelling rosemary on Christmas Eve brought health and happiness in the coming year. Need to remember that one for next year…
As well as enjoying the fragrance, I love using rosemary to flavour breads – on its own, or with some salt and olive oil are favourites. Branching out a bit I thought I’d try combining the rosemary with some other flavours – apple and Wensleydale cheese seemed like a good bet. Using a recipe taken from the Bourke Street Bakery cookbook - I used the topping on some soft, chewy and very tasty olive oil bread. It takes a bit of forward planning if you want to use the ferment in the dough – this needs making the evening before you plan to bake and spends the night in the fridge. It’s worth the extra effort though – you can make the dough without it, but the ferment adds flavour and texture to the loaf.
I’m linking this recipe to December’s Herbs on Saturday over at Karen’s blog - Lavender and Lovage. There are lots of good ideas for how to use herbs, homegrown or otherwise, in this month’s challenge.
Flatbread with apple, rosemary and Wensleydale
(adapted from the olive oil dough recipe in ‘Bourke Street Bakery the ultimate baking companion’)
600g strong white bread flour
4g dried fast-action yeast
400ml warm water
20ml extra virgin olive oil
20ml milk
11/2 tsp fine sea salt
180g ferment (optional) – see note below
These quantities make enough dough for two loaves – I used the apple topping for one, and rosemary salt and olive oil on the other. The topping quantities below are enough for one loaf –
1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
½ an apple, core removed and finely sliced
30g Wensleydale cheese, crumbled
Put the flour and yeast into a large mixing bowl. Add the water and mix until everything is well combined. Leave for 10 minutes, then add the oil, milk and salt. Mix to form a dough, then turn this out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Let the dough rest for another 10 minutes before adding the ferment (if using). Knead again for another 10 minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover and leave to rise for about 1½ hours – but knock back the dough (turn it out of the bowl, press it out into a rough rectangle and fold the top third down onto the dough and the bottom third up over this. Turn the dough and repeat this folding. Then return the dough to the bowl) every 30 minutes.
After 1½ hours, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into two equal sized pieces. If you want to keep some ferment for future loaves – cut a small piece of dough (about 180g) off first. The ferment can be kept in the fridge for up to two or three days.
Shape each piece of dough into a rectangle about 5mm thick and put on a oiled baking sheet. Leave the dough to rest for 20-30 minutes and preheat the oven to 220oC, 425F, gas 7. I also put a tin of hot water in the bottom of the oven to increase the humidity and to try to get more of a crust on the loaves.
Sprinkle the rosemary, apple and Wensleydale over the top of the loaf and press gently into the dough. Turn the oven down to 200oC, 400F, gas 6 and bake the bread for about 25 minutes – test the loaf by tapping the underside with your fingers, if it sounds hollow it’s ready.
For the ferment –
100g strong white bread flour
1 tsp sea salt
¾ tsp extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp milk
70ml water
1g dried fast action yeast
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl for about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a small container, cover and leave to rest in the fridge overnight.
What the best climate for growing rosemary? We love it at our house, but it’s a bit expensive to constantly buy it fresh from the grocery store.
Rosemary is originally from the Mediterranean – it likes lots of sun and really well drained soil, but is quite hardy as long as it doesn’t get cold and wet at the same time. It will grow happily in a pot too – definitely worth trying to grow one, good luck!
We have sun, but the draining soil might be a bit of a problem… Our backyard is currently a bit of a swamp from all of the rain! I think I’ll start the plants off in pots instead. (Plus then I can enjoy the smell inside!)
Sunshine and a pot should work well – enjoy your plants!
Thanks for all of your help!
I think I prefer the fragrance of rosemary to its flavour – weird I know…. Can I ask what you think of the Bourke St Bakery cookbook? I’ve been comtemplating a purchase – i don’t really have a decent bakery type cookbook (or indeed that much experience baking) and would like one that has nice dependable recipes.
I really like the book, but must admit I haven’t tried many of the bread recipes because they use a white or rye starter and I’ve never got round to making one. But I use the ideas and adapt them. The pastry section is great – lots of recipes for pies, tarts and empanadas. And the cakes… best chocolate cake recipe I’ve found so far, I’d almost say the book is worth getting hold of for this recipe alone! Have you ever been to the bakery Liz?
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I love rosemary too and also use it in hand tied bouquets. I’ve got a trailing rosemary that’s growing really well and the smell is heavenly!
Belated Happy Christmas to you and yours x
Thanks – hope you had a good Christmas too, did the kittens enjoy the wrapping paper?
I wish I had enough rosemary to cover the floor – no matter how much I grow, I never have enough for cooking. I now have raised about 8 plants that all live in the polytunnel and they look very sad due to over-pruning for recipes. I will just keep growing more….Great recipe too, thanks! Tracey
Good to hear I’m not the only one who thinks there can never be too much rosemary! Imagine the wonderful smell if there really was enough to cover the floor.
Love growing and cooking with Rosemary too. Never used to have quite enough, but it seems to be thriving in rubbish soil in sheltered spot right up against our house. Been enjoying it on focaccia this week, and thinking there should be enough this year to use whole branches as aromatic barbecue skewers – thinking ahead a little!
Nothing like planning ahead – looking forward to summer barbecues is a good thing at this time of year!
I always rewrite the 70s song Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) as Love Flows (Where My Rosemary Grows) because it seems way more fitting.
Much love for Rosemary in my world, I love the bit about the tradition of spreading it on the floor, very cool.
Michael
Yup – I like your lyrics much better Michael!