How to Cook Sesame Scallion Bread (Bing Zi)

Yields: 1 bread

Preparation time: 20 mins + 1 hour (inactive)

Cooking time: 15 mins

Ingredients needed to make Sesame Scallion Bread:

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped
• 1 cup warm water (1/2 cup boiling + ½ cup cold)
• Small handful of sesame seeds
• Oil, as required
• Salt to taste

Cooking instructions for Sesame Scallion Bread:

• Pour both the boiling and cold water into a small bowl and stir in the yeast until it dissolves completely; set aside for a couple of minutes to let it become active.
• Stir the yeast mixture into the flour and knead them together to form a smooth dough.
• Knead it further to make it more elastic and wrap it up in moist cloth before setting aside in a warm place for an hour to rise.
• Return it onto the working counter and punch it down to remove the accumulated air in it.
• Roll it out into a large, ½’’ thick circle, so that its edges are thinner than the centre.
• Coat its surface with a lashing of oil, leaving thin border around the edges and sprinkle the chopped scallions on top.
• Pleat the ends together to make a parcel and pinch them together to seal.
• Pat the bottom of the parcel gently to flatten it out and turn it over.
• Brush few drops of water on top and scatter the most of the sesame seeds on top to cover completely.
• Flip it over and top the other surface similarly with rest of the sesame seeds.
• Brush 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet and heat it over moderate flame.
• Slide the bread onto it and place a lid on top to cover.
• Cook for 10 minutes, undisturbed and then remove the lid to flip the bread over carefully to expose its nicely browned side and is cooked enough to appear firm yet doesn’t subside when lifted.
• Cook the other side similarly, covered, for another 3-5 minutes or until the other side turns golden and crisp up.
• Slide it down onto a plate and slice it into thick wedges with the help of pizza cutter.
• Serve warm.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons