Description
This Easy Tiger Bread recipe delivers a crunchy, crackled crust and soft, chewy interior that’s perfect for sandwiches or as a snack. Made with a unique rice flour topping that cracks during baking, this bread is a delightful treat with a slightly sweet and savory flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups Bread flour
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 packet Instant yeast
- 1.5 cups Warm water
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
Topping Ingredients
- 0.5 cup Rice flour
- 0.5 cup Warm water
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon Instant yeast
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast. Add warm water and vegetable oil, then mix well until a sticky dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Make the topping: In a separate bowl, mix rice flour, warm water, sugar, salt, vegetable oil, and instant yeast together to form a thick paste. Set aside to let the flavors meld while the dough rises.
- Shape the bread: Punch down the risen dough and shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Apply the topping: Spread the rice flour paste evenly over the top of the shaped dough. This will create the signature crackled crust once baked.
- Second rise: Allow the topped dough to rest and rise for another 30-45 minutes until slightly puffy.
- Bake the bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for about 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crackled, and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use bread flour for the best chewy texture.
- Ensure water is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast without killing it.
- The rice flour topping must be thick enough to spread but not too runny.
- Allow the bread to cool fully before slicing to maintain the crust texture.
- Store bread in a paper bag or bread box to keep crust crisp.
