Fancy Scallion Ham Bread

Taste: Mildly spicy; Technique: Baking; Time: Several hours; Difficulty: Moderate.

Detailed Steps for Cooking Fancy Scallion Ham Bread

Pour boiling water into the flour, scald it and mix well, then spread and cool the scalded starter for later use.

Put all ingredients except butter and the starter dough into the bread machine and mix (knead for 20 minutes).

Knead the dough until elastic, then add butter and continue mixing (about 20 minutes in the bread machine).

After adding butter, mix until the dough surface is smooth, then place the dough in a container, cover with plastic wrap, and let it ferment until doubled in size. When poked with a finger, it should not shrink.

Take out the dough, deflate it, then divide it into three equal portions, shape into balls, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Roll the rested dough into a long strip.

Wrap a piece of ham sausage inside.

Fold and press the dough, making equal cuts without completely separating them.

Arrange the dough to create a pattern, twisting one piece to the left and the next to the right, then press the ham sausage to create a flower shape.

Let it ferment in a warm, humid place, then brush the surface of the fermented bread with beaten egg and sprinkle with salted scallions.

Let it ferment in a warm, humid place, then brush the surface of the fermented bread with beaten egg and sprinkle with salted scallions.

Place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees, middle rack, for 16 minutes (cover with foil after the bread has browned).