Cooked Ham in Bread

Cooked Ham in Bread is a beloved Easter tradition. It is usually served as a part of Easter breakfast along with horseradish, eggs and potica or some other sweet bread (for example, poprtnik or pinca).

One reason this dish holds a special place on the Easter breakfast table lies in tradition: farmers used to slaughter pigs in winter, as the cold made it easier to preserve large quantities of meat. Smoked ham kept longer than other cuts, which were usually consumed before the Lenten fast. By the time Easter arrived, ham was often the only meat remaining in storage.

Thanks to its popularity, cooked ham in bread is now enjoyed not only at Easter, but also at picnics and various celebrations throughout the year.

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 500 g flour

• 10 g instant yeast

• 15 g salt

• 80 g butter at room temperature

• 250 ml warm milk

• 1 egg

• 25 g sugar

• 1 egg for the egg wash

• 1250 g piece of gammon (meat that becomes ham once cooked)

Instructions:

Ham

1. Place the gammon in a large pot, cover it with cold water, bring to a boil, and simmer for about an hour (or according to the package instructions).

2. Drain the cooked ham in a colander and let it cool completely. Pat it dry with paper towels.

Dough

1. In a bowl, combine flour and yeast.

2. Heat the milk, sugar, and butter in a sauce pan until butter is melted.

3. Once the milk mixture is sufficiently cool, add the egg and mix.

4. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and knead a little. Add the salt and continue kneading by hand or using a mixer until the dough is soft and elastic. It should not stick to your hands. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size (about 60 minutes).

Making Cooked Ham in Bread

1. Heat the oven to 180 C (355 F).

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Roll out the dough, place the ham in the center, and wrap it tightly. Trim any excess dough and use it to create decorations—such as a braid or other shapes.

4. Let rise in a warm place for about an hour.
5. Whisk egg in a cup and gently brush the bread with it.
6. Bake for about 40 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil after about 20 minutes so that the decorations do not brown too much.
7. Wrap in a damp towel so that the dough remains soft.
8. Slice and serve.