Braided Stuffed Bread

I had some leftover dough from the naan so here's my creation:

The dough could really be filled with anything. I've seen this technique done with sweet  ingredients like sugar and nuts. Or you could do hamburger and marinara sauce and mozzarella. Here's my Mexican style version.

Braided Stuffed Bread

Ingredients

1 large can of chicken breasts
1 can of refried beans
2 oz of cheese
1/2 C of yogurt or sour cream
Small handful of cilantro, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic (or you could use garlic powder/salt)
1/4 C salsa
1/4 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper chopped or large handful of frozen peppers thawed
1/2 C frozen corn thawed
1 chopped jalapeno (optional)
anaheim chili powder
barbecue powder (optional)
ground pepper


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough out into a baking pan. Using clean kitchen scissors, cut aprx 1 inch slits all along the long edges of the dough.
2. Mix the can of chicken with 1/8 C yogurt/sour cream, minced garlic, salsa, chili powder, ground pepper and bbq powder to taste.
3. Layer the dough with refried beans, onions, cilantro, and jalapeno. Next top with peppers, corn, and the chicken (already mixed with yogurt/sour cream, salsa, and seasonings). Top with more yogurt/sour cream, and lastly the cheese.
4. Fold the ends in slightly to form a cap then pull each cut piece of dough toward the opposite side, lacing each opposite piece across one another to achieve a  braided look. Cover any holes/spaces with the excess dough on the ends of the "laces".

5. Beat one egg in a bowl then with a basting tool, baste the top and sides of the dough.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until dough is cooked.

In Pictures

Roll out the dough onto floured surface

 Use clean kitchen scissors to cut slits down the sides

 Layer refried beans, onions, cilantro, and jalapeno.

 Next top with peppers, corn, and chicken (which is already mixed with yogurt/sour cream, salsa, and seasonings).

 Top with more yogurt/sour cream and lastly cheese.

Fold the ends in slightly to form a cap then pull each cut piece of dough toward the opposite side, lacing each opposite piece across eachother to achieve a  braided look. Cover any holes/spaces with the excess dough on the ends of the "laces".

 I egg washed the top with a baster. I wanted it to come out toasty brown on the top and I was also hoping it would hold the dough in place.

 Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

  The egg wash may burn when it touches the pan. Don't worry it's easy to get off.

  And voila!

 I let mine set on a cooling rack for a little bit and then cut into it.

What I learned

1. Egg washed bread looks and tastes really good. I have no idea if it helped with keeping the "laces" in place.