TWMT loves food and trying out new and local foods is one of our must-do activities both at home and when travelling. Every now and again we come across something that we (or rather I as Mum) just *have* to make when back home and this is where you’ll find all my recreations. Why not give them a go and let me know what you think?
Icelandic Rúgbrauð aka Thunder Bread
During our recent trip to Iceland I gained a bit of an addiction for rúgbrauð (rye bread) smeared with that lovely Icelandic butter. The boy wasn’t so keen on this so-called Thunder Bread – if you eat too much of this fibrous bread that’s what happens!
Unlike German rye bread the Icelandic version is much sweeter as contains Molasses or Golden Syrup and is traditionally baked in pot buried in a hot spring for over 12 hours – this video explains the process far better. I’ve since attempted to recreate this delicious bread at home using both golden syrup and molasses – the later gives a darker loaf and is a bit malt loafy. Although my efforts are just not quite the same both are still tasty if you can spare the time.
Icelandic Thunder Bread Recipe
Prep Time – 10 minutes | Cooking Time – 5 hours-ish
Ingredients
- 150 grams rye flour
- 90 grams whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 125 grams molasses (black treacle) or golden syrup for a lighter coloured loaf
- 375 ml buttermilk
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- Butter for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 210°F/100°C or Gas Mark 1.
- Lightly grease a standard loaf tin with butter.
- Stir together the rye flour, whole wheat flour and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl.
- Add in and stir the molasses/golden syrup, buttermilk and honey until everything is just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and evenly fill. Cover with a foil ‘tent’ leaving plenty of room for the bread to rise.
- Bake in the oven on a very low heat for about 5 hours – worth checking every so often.
- Remove from the oven, leave to cool just slightly and remove it from the pan.
- Enjoy warm or cool with lashings of salted butter, jam, fresh salmon, soup, or whatever you fancy!
Travels With My Teen 