Breads and doughs

Pão de Mafra

Rustic bread with an open crumb, firm crust and slightly acidic flavour.

RegionMafra
DifficultyAverage
Total time2 hours
Yield1 large loaf
Photo of Pão de Mafra — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Pão de Mafra is a benchmark of Portuguese rustic bread, with a marked crust and a crumb full of personality.

In the homemade version, we aim for well-fermented bread, moist inside and excellent with olive oil, soups and sandwiches.

Ingredients

  • 600 g of wheat flour
  • 100 g of rye flour
  • 10 g dried yeast
  • 480 ml of water
  • 12 g of salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)

Method

  1. Mix flour, yeast and water until hydrated.
  2. Rest the dough for 20 minutes.
  3. Add salt and knead or fold.
  4. Let it ferment until it rises well.
  5. Shape into a rustic loaf.
  6. Bake in a hot oven with initial steam.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • More hydrated dough gives better crumb.
  • A very hot oven helps the crust.
  • Wait for it to cool before cutting.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Use bread flour if you can find it.
  • Rye can be reduced if the flavour becomes strong.

Pairing

Olive oil, cheese, soup or coffee. No alcoholic pairing is required.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from the Portuguese culinary tradition. Like any traditional recipe, it can vary depending on the region, the family and the cook.

Do you have a family Portuguese recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. The recipes received are analyzed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
1 h 20 min
Cooking
40 min
Total time
2 hours
Yield
1 large loaf
Difficulty
Average
Occasion
Table bread, coffee, soups

Pairing

Olive oil, cheese, soup or coffee. No alcoholic pairing is required.

Tips from Empório Portugal

More hydrated dough gives better crumb.

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