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Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread)

Ethiopian · Dessert · Medium

Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread)

Total
3 hr
Prep
2 hr 30 min
Serves
8
Calories
260
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A round, lightly sweet loaf scented with cardamom and dotted with raisins, scored into a wheel before baking in the Ethiopian tradition.

A patterned top gives Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread) its familiar shape, but the soft crumb is the reason to cut another slender wedge. Raisins add small bursts of sweetness beside cardamom, making the loaf a gentle sweet to serve with coffee.

Let the dough rise until visibly puffy rather than rushing it into the oven. Common to Ethiopia and Eritrea, this bread is lightly sweet; its texture should be springy and breadlike rather than rich like a frosted cake.

SweetMildBakingHolidayVeganVegetarianDairy-freeNut-freeEgg-free

Method

  1. Mix flour, sugar, instant yeast, salt and cardamom in a bowl. Add lukewarm water and 2 tbsp vegetable oil, then knead for until smooth and elastic. Knead in the raisins.

  2. Cover and let rise for in a warm place until doubled. Use half the remaining oil to grease a 10-inch round cake pan.

  3. Press the dough into an even round in the pan. Cover and rise for until puffy, then heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

  4. Brush with the remaining oil. Score a shallow circle near the edge and spokes across the top with a sharp knife, cutting only the surface.

  5. Bake for until golden and the center reaches about 190°F. Cool on a rack for before cutting into 8 wedges.

Forkue tips

  • Green cardamom is a useful supermarket substitute for Ethiopian korarima, although the aroma is sweeter and more floral.

Storing and reheating

Keep tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2 days or freeze wedges for 2 months. Warm wrapped in foil in a 300°F (150°C) oven to soften the crumb.

Kitchen gear

10-inch round cake panTop picks on Amazon
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Nutrition per serving, estimated

260Calories
5gProtein
46gCarbs
6gFat

Photo: Temesgen Woldezion (edited by Merhawie Woldezion), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and enhanced)

Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread): FAQ

Is himbasha a cake or a bread?

It is a yeasted bread with gentle sweetness. The decorative shape and raisins make it suitable for a sweet course, but it has a bread crumb rather than a cake crumb.

Why did the pattern disappear?

The dough may have risen further after shallow marks were made. Score just before baking and use a sharp blade so the surface opens cleanly.

How do I store and reheat Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread)?

Keep tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2 days or freeze wedges for 2 months. Warm wrapped in foil in a 300°F (150°C) oven to soften the crumb.

How long does Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread) take?

About 3 hr in total: 2 hr 30 min prep and 30 min cooking.

What do I need to make Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread)?

The key ingredients are all-purpose flour, instant yeast, ground cardamom and raisins, plus pantry basics.

Any tips for Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread)?

Green cardamom is a useful supermarket substitute for Ethiopian korarima, although the aroma is sweeter and more floral.

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