Coconut bread is a Jamaican yeast bread with a hard exterior and soft interior. It’s a simple recipe and can be eaten alone or as a sandwich with meat. The bread is often used as a container for savory fillings and can be served with a variety of side dishes.
Coconut bread is a Jamaican yeast bread that takes the shape of a bread pocket. The name is thought to come from coconuts, not because of the taste, but because of its hard exterior and softer interior. It has a fairly simple recipe consisting of basic bread ingredients with no embellishments. This bread can be eaten alone or split in half to form a sandwich with a meat patty or jerk chicken.
This type of bread is typically served at Jamaican resorts, restaurants, or booths, and its recipe is likely kept simple to allow for one batch of coconut bread to satisfy multiple uses. The activated yeast is combined with the dry ingredients of sugar, salt and flour, as well as the wet ingredients of egg, milk and melted butter. The dough is kneaded, allowed to rise, and then divided into 10 circles on a baking sheet. These circles are folded into the pocket shapes, then baked until cooked through and lightly browned.
When eaten on its own, coconut bread is served similar to a stiff roll. It can be broken up and eaten with the hands, slathered with a condiment such as melted butter, or can be dipped in a sauce, such as coconut curry. The lack of a distinct flavor in the bread matches it with any spread or dip flavor a diner would like to use.
Coconut bread pockets are most often used as a container for a savory filling. The inside of the pocket is hollowed out using fingers or a tool until there is an enlarged cavity. It’s important to leave the sides of the pocket intact or the filling may drip out, creating a mess as you eat. Filling possibilities include beef, lamb or pork patties or ground beef seasoned with spicy Jamaican jerk seasoning. Cooked plantains and black beans can be used for a vegetarian alternative.
A Jamaican-style meal can be created using a stuffed coconut bread pocket as the centerpiece, with possible side dishes including steamed cabbage, vegetable rice, or pumpkin rice. A blend of vegetables should be used to balance the heavy coconut bread and the flavors of the stuffing ingredient shouldn’t clash with the spices on the side dishes. Coconut-based sweets may be served for dessert to complement the course and hint at the bread’s original origin.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
