Caterpillar Bread with Cheesy Chicken

Fancy ways to present a food means alot. I wanted to try out some twist in making stuffed bread and finally landed on this - Caterpillar Bread! Oh no... No caterpillars are stuffed in!!

It's nothing but some creativity, out of which you can make pretty looking caterpillar bread. I'm sure kids will be excited to see this in lunchbox.

Thank you Fauzia M. Afif for the inspiration.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

All Purpose Flour - 2 1/2 Cups

Milk Powder - 2 Tbsp

Egg - 1

Melted Butter - 1/4 Cup

Salt to taste

Active Dry Yeast - 1 1/2 Tsp

Sugar - 1 1/2 Tsp

Lukewarm Water - 1/4 Cup

Lukewarm Milk - 3 Tbsp

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1 Egg + 3 Tbsp Fresh Milk (mixed together) - for eggwash

For the filling:

I used cheesy chicken. Click here to get the recipe.

Method:

1. Mix sugar and yeast with lukewarm water and milk. Keep covered for few minutes till it becomes frothy.

2. Meanwhile in a mixing bowl, sift and add flour. Make a well in the center and add the rest of the ingredients - milk powder, salt, egg and melted butter. 

3. When the yeast has activated, add that as well. Mix everything together and knead well for about 8-10 minutes. (If the dough is sticky, dust some flour; if dry, add water/milk in small amounts)

4. Once you're happy with the dough, put it into a buttered bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Wait until it doubles in size. This may take around 1-2 hours.

5. Punch down the proven dough. Divide it into 2. Dust your working surface with some flour and place one portion of dough there. Using a rolling pin, flatten it out to a large circle.

Step 1

Step 2

6. Brush the edges with water.

Step 3

7. As shown in the below image, place your filling and cut several strips on the opposite, that are roughly around 1/2" wide.

Step 4

8. Now start rolling gently towards the end as shown below.

Step 5

9. When reached to the end, carefully take each strip and wrap gently to create a caterpillar-like pattern. Each strip should be draped well right under the bread. By doing that you can prevent the strips getting removed while baking. When you're done, fold the edges underneath so that filling will not ooze out. Repeat the same with the other half your dough.

Step 6

10. Carefully place it on greased baking tray and allow to prove again (for about 20-minutes). If you wish you can create a fancy looking caterpillar by shaping it as shown below.

Step 7

11. After it is proven, brush with the eggwash mixture and sprinkle some sesame seeds(optional). Bake at 200C until the top becomes golden. Brush again when it is half baked, that way you can ensure a glossy finish.

Step 8

12. And here are my oven-fresh caterpillars....!