London - Arab Today
Ingredients
225g strong white flour
225g malted granary bread flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp caster sugar
7g sachet easy-blend yeast
150ml warm milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp olive oil
100-150ml warm water
50g unsalted butter, melted
4 medium bananas
200g dried apricots, chopped
2 tsp cinnamon
100g light muscovado sugar
zest 1 orange
4 tbsp runny honey
Method
1-Mix the flours and salt together in a large bowl, then stir in the sugar and yeast. Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the warm milk, beaten egg, olive oil and enough of the water to form a soft, wet dough.
2-On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for 10 mins until smooth. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film, then leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. The dough is now ready to be shaped.
3-Lightly butter a 20cm square baking tin. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle approximately 30cm x 25cm and brush with melted butter.
4-Thinly slice bananas into a bowl and mix in apricots, sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Spoon mix over the dough, leaving a finger-width border.
5-Roll the dough towards you from the long side of the rectangle, tucking in any banana that falls out. Press ends together to seal. With a sharp knife, cut into 9 pieces and place, cut side up, in the tin, just touching each other. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and set aside in a warm place to rise for 30 mins.
6-Heat oven to 200C/fan180C/gas 6. Warm the honey in a pan or in the microwave on High for 5 secs, then brush half over the buns. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins before removing to a cooling rack. Brush with the remaining honey then pull apart to serve.