Pueblo Oven Bread - Native American

Um Safia's Note:

This recipe is a slightly modernised version of the traditional Pueblo Oven Bread. Traditionally the bread is cooked in outdoor ovens (hornos) so the recipe has been slightly adapted to accommodate home cooking. This recipe comes from Cooking Post. Time to make doesn't include rising & resting time!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 55 mins
• Prep Time: 55 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 loaves

• 7 g dry yeast
• ½ tablespoon shortening
• ¼ cup honey or ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup hot water
• 5 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Mix well and set aside.
2. Combine shortening, honey and salt in large bowl. Add 1 cup hot water and stir well. When mixture cools to room temperature, mix well with yeast mixture.
3. Add 4 cups of four, stirring well after each cup.
4. Spread 1 cup of flour on cutting board and place dough upon it. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic (about 15 minutes). Put dough in large bowl, cover with cloth and put in warm place until dough doubles in bulk.
5. Turn dough onto floured surface again and knead well. Divide dough into two equal parts. Shape each into loaves or rounds.
6. Place the loaves on well-greased cookie sheet, cover with cloth and allow to double in warm place. Put into preheated 350-degree oven and bake until lightly browned (about 1 hour). Use oven's middle rack and place a shallow pan of water on the bottom of the oven.