Oceanic cuisines is the theme i chose for the first week of this month's Blogging Marathon.Oceania is a region that is centered on islands of central pacific ocean. The term is often used to describe australia and proximate islands. Our team leader valli provides themes that, makes us come out of our comfort zone, and experiment with world cuisine. Though i try to pick interesting themes, the lazy in me, finds shortcuts everytime!
So, this time i seriously read and searched for some really good recipes to try in my kitchen for the theme : Oceanic Cuisines. Oh man, what a variety. It starts with Australia, and has a longg list of islands, cook islands, Easter islands, Fiji, Mariana islands, nauru, and there is much more.
First recipe that got my mind is this Boston Bun. My geography is very limited and that limited knowledge thought what is boston bun doing in pacific islands?
The boston bun recipe seems to be an Australian tradition, but nobody seems to know for sure, from where it all started. i couldn't find much on the origin, but glad that i tried this delicious bread.
It is very similar to the potato bread, but sweetened and has raisin/sultanas in it. The coconut icing on top is to die for. Allow the bread to sit for 15 minutes after frosting, if possible poke the top of the bread/cake with a fork here and there and pour the icing, the juice soaks the bread and it tastes out of the world!!!
I couldn't eat much as i restrict myself, had a small pinch and i loved it!My hubby had a big slice for his dinner and my cranky lil one too enjoyed a small slice with the berries. This is one bread, that you should definitely try, if you are new to bread baking, as it doesn't have any yeast, which is taken care by the potato and gives you beautiful fluffy loaf!
Inspired from here
Ingredients
2 cups of self raising flour, check notes
¾ cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup finely mashed potato ( i used 1 large potato)
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
½ teaspoon nutmeg powder
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup cranberries
For the coconut icing
1 cup fresh coconut (i used half fresh and half dessicated coconut)
¾ cup warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup icing sugar
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200C and line a 8inch round bake tin with parchment.
- First get your potato ready. If you have cooked potato handy in your fridge, then fine, or else, Wash, peel and cube one large potato and cook either on stove-top or in the microwave until soft. Drain and mash it thoroughly.
- To this mashed potato, add sugar and mix well. Once you add sugar to the potato, it will turn liquid. to this add milk and mix well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together self-raising flour, cinnamon and nutmeg powder. To this add dried craberries and raisins.. Now slowly add the the potato-sugar liquid to the flour and mix well. Using a spatula mix until all the flour is fully incorporated with the liquid.
- Pour the prepared batter into the cake tin and bake for around 50-60 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Once done, remove the cake tin out of the oven, let it cool for 5 minuts in the pan, then carefully unmould it onto a wire rack. Let it cool.
Coconut icing
- Mix everything listed there together in a bowl and pour it over the warm bread. Let it sit for 15 minutes for the icing flavors to soak into the bread.
- Slice and serve it along with warm tea/coffee.
Notes
- Self Raising flour, can be made at home. Add 1 & ¼ teaspoon of baking powder for every cup of flour along with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Sieve the mix together.
- I have used Whole wheat flour instead of plain flour here. I don't know whether technically it qualifies as self-raising flour. Since we are using potatoes here, which usually gives a great texture to whole wheat breads, you can very well use whole wheat flour and get a fluffy bread.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM
Back for Seconds
Ohhhh that coconut icing! This looks simply delightful! Such a fun recipe.
Jayanthi
Looks so delicious and the pictures are truly tempting
Pam
I have never heard of Boston Bun before. Actually, I don't think that I have tried many Oceanic dishes at all. It looks good!
veenaazmanov
What an interesting write up!! I love reading food origins. The Boston Busn sounds so delicious. Love the idea of all those juices sinking in. YUM!
Catherine
I have never tried a potato cake but this sounds so very delicious!
Fab Food 4 All
Ooh yummy, I am totally intrigued by this Australian bake and the mashed potato in there. Love the idea of poking holes into it to let the coconut flavour seep in:-)
Karen
What an interesting challenge! I love trying recipes that take me out of my comfort zone. Glad your family loved this.
Gayathri Kumar
The texture of the bun is wonderful and the raisins make a lovely addition. I have tried using potatoes in breads and the result is awesome. I am sure this one tasted so good with the coconut on top.
Rafeeda AR
Just like you, I have the same problem with making rich recipes. I am the one who has to do portion control, but everybody does it except me and then I am forced to finish it off :/ I am totally in love with that icing... the bun looks so good!
Adrianas Best Recipes
super nice recipe and also unexpected the use of the potatoes. I want to try this soon you have great ideas =)
Srivalli
Priya, so glad you picked up this theme and this dish looks amazing!..the frosting sounds yum, and the cake no doubt must have tasted so good!..
Apron Free Cook
What an interesting recipe ... I'm so tempted by that icing! LOL
I love the island theme too - will need to plan something similar soon.
Unknown
I've never put potatoes in my cakes before. I'll have to try it. Looks scrumptious!
Marisa Franca @ Allourway
That looks so good! I haven't used potatoes in sweets before although I have in my breads. I bet the cake stays moist and the icing -- wow! I really like coconut so I'm sure this would be a favorite!!
Mayuri Patel
I too want to get out of my comfort zone and that's why have picked oceanic cuisine too and there are so many different kinds of cuisine out there. Never heard of Boston Bun but sure would love to try the recipe out.
Easy Cookin
Now this is something new to me and I'm so loving the flavor combination of potato in buns. I've had potato bread but never a sweetened version before and adding it to try in the future. That icing looks perfect on it.
Renz HomeMadeZagat
Ooh. this looks good. I love potato bread so I'm sure I would love this. I like the idea of poking the cake before adding that amazing looking coconut icing!!
Daniela Anderson
It's always nice to discover recipes from other cuisines that you are not very familiar with. This cake sounds fantastic, rich and so indulgent. That frosting does look rather yummy, I would be tempted to eat it all by itself.
vaishali sabnani
Super , at first I thought it would be savoury , the icing on top looks fantastic . Super pick for the theme .
Priya Suresh
Seriously i want to pick this theme, but unfortunately i couldnt. Boston bun rocks especially the topping. Alluring potato bun.
veena
wow...looks super..the frosting looks so good
Preeti
Wow. Very innovative and interesting bun recipe.
Srividhya
Love this potato bun recipe and that coconut icing sounds super delectable. Awesome share.
cookingwithsapana
That is one very interesting bun and that coconut icing is to die for.