Night’s Watch Blackened Bread | Game of Thrones Inspired Recipes
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What’s Up, Hungry People
Find a man who will stare at you the way Tormund stares at Brienne while eating bread.
It’s GAME OF THRONES WEEK! And not just one week but TWO FULL WEEKS of GoT-themed recipes are coming your way! Every weekday leading up to the premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones, we’ll be exploring Westeros through cuisine. From The Wall to Dragonstone, the foods and feasts of Westeros are abundant.
If you aren’t caught up on the most recent season of Game of Thrones – be warned! There’s gonna be BIG OL’ SPOILERS in this post!
Tonight we dine with the men of the Night’s Watch at The Wall; which, until last season, was the only standing defense between Westeros and the undead army of the Night King.
Rations are meager at Castle Black – and who would be surprised that far north? The Crows relied heavily on food they could hunt or cook with little effort in the low temperatures on The Wall.
One food that is easy to cook and requires few ingredients is beer bread – and if one thing is for certain, grain and dark beer are in no short supply in Westeros, given the fact that everyone seems to be drinking constantly.
Made from a simple dough without yeast, the bread is encrusted in black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and dried onion and garlic to help keep the bread moist even on the driest and coldest of nights.
Breads like this one are also easy to carry in packs when venturing north of The Wall to hunt White Walkers and wights. It can be cut into thick slices or torn off in chunks and topped with a dab of salted butter for sustenance.
Whether or not The Wall will still be standing at the end of season eight is to be determined – though based off the season finale last year, there is little doubt that Castle Black probably won’t be around for much longer.
At least the Crows will have a healthy ration of bread to get them through the long march to Winterfell, where I assume they will inevitably go to stand behind House Stark while defending Westeros from the Night King. Only time will tell…as they say: WINTER IS COMING!
Made from a simple dough without yeast, the bread is encrusted in black sesame seeds, poppyseeds and dried onion and garlic to help keep the bread moist even on the dryest and coldest of nights.
Here’s What You Need
- Flour: Forms the base of the bread dough.
- Dark beer: Adds flavor and helps the bread rise.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture.
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the dough.
- Baking powder: Helps the bread rise without yeast.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps with the moist texture.
- Garlic powder: Adds savory flavor.
- Onion powder: Adds depth of flavor.
- Poppy seeds: Adds texture and flavor.
- Tarragon: Adds a unique herbal note.
- Spray oil: Prevents the bread from sticking to the pan.
For Blackened Crust:
- Butter: Helps create a rich, crispy crust.
- Poppy seeds: Adds crunch and visual appeal.
- Black sesame seeds: Adds flavor and a blackened look.
- Dried minced garlic: Adds a burst of garlic flavor.
- Dried minced onion: Adds a burst of onion flavor.
- Sea salt: Enhances the flavors of the crust.
Let’s Cook
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grab a large bowl and whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, tarragon, and one tablespoon of poppy seeds. Now, stir in the honey, melted butter, and beer. Get ready for some arm workout because this dough will be thick and sticky.
Grease a bread pan with spray oil or butter. Plop that sticky dough into the pan and flatten the top with a spatula. Use the spatula to create a little divot down the center of the bread. This helps it rise evenly.
In a small bowl, mix the remaining poppy seeds, black sesame seeds, salt, dried onion, and garlic. Pour the melted butter over the top of the bread. Spread it out with the spatula. Don’t worry if it pools up a bit; it’ll soak in as the bread bakes. Sprinkle your seed mixture over the top to create that delicious blackened crust.
Pop the bread into the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes. It should rise nicely in the center and not be overly moist. I like to bake mine for 45 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the bread inside (without opening the door) for another 15 minutes. This ensures it’s cooked through.
Let the bread cool completely before slicing for the best results. This bread is crumbly and perfect for tearing into chunks. Serve it with clotted cream and a flagon of ale, just like the Night’s Watch would enjoy.
Extra Tips for a Perfect Blackened Bread
- Cooling Completely: Letting the bread cool completely is crucial. Cutting it too soon can result in a crumbly mess.
- Avoid Overmixing: Mix the dough until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a denser bread.
- Even Seed Distribution: Make sure the seeds and dried bits are evenly distributed on top for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Butter Pooling: Don’t worry if the melted butter pools on top; it will soak into the bread and make the crust rich and flavorful.
- Storage: This bread keeps well wrapped in a clean towel or bread box. It can also be frozen and reheated when needed.
And now my watch has ended.
This blackened bread will make you feel like you’re right there with Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch, braving the cold at The Wall. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for tearing into with friends while you debate who will sit on the Iron Throne. Serve it up with some clotted cream and a cold drink, and you’ve got a feast fit for a true fan of Westeros. So, gather your fellow watchers and enjoy this Game of Thrones-inspired bread as you prepare for the final season. Remember, winter is coming!
Night’s Watch Blackened Bread | Game of Thrones Inspired Recipes
Equipment
- bread pans
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 12 oz dark beer or can sub any carbonated beverage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 tablespoons tarragon
- spray oil
FOR BLACKENED CRUST:
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- ½ tablespoon dried minced garlic
- ½ tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, tarragon, and one tablespoon of poppy seeds. Stir in the honey, melted butter, and beer until a very thick and sticky dough forms.
- Grease a bread pan with spray oil or butter. Transfer the dough to the tin and flatten the top with a spatula. Use the spatula to create a divot down the center of the bread.
- In a small bowl, stir together the remaining poppy seeds, black sesame seeds, salt, dried onion, and garlic. Pour the melted butter over the top of the bread. Use the spatula to spread it evenly across the top. It's okay if there is pooling butter; it will absorb into the bread as it cooks. Sprinkle the mixture of poppy seeds and sesame seeds over the top of the bread to form a thick "blackened" layer.
- Bake the bread for 45-60 minutes. It should have risen in the center and not be overly moist. I cooked mine for 45 minutes and then turned off the oven and left the bread in the oven, without opening it, for another 15 minutes to ensure it was cooked through.
- Let the bread cool completely for optimal cutting results. The bread should be crumbly and tear off in chunks easily. Serve with clotted cream and a flagon of ale. Enjoy!
