Dumb bread
Bread from United States Virgin Islands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dumb bread is a traditional bread that originates from the Virgin Islands.[1][2] The name comes from the cooking technique dum pukht, which originated from India and was brought to the Caribbean when the Indian indentured workers replaced the slaves.[1][3][4]
Dumb bread | |
| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Virgin Islands |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Flour, water, butter, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, often shredded coconut |
This bread does not require any yeast.[5] Ingredients include flour, water, butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk; oftentimes, shredded coconut is also added to the dough.[1][6] Sometimes, cornmeal may be used.[7] The same dough can be used to make johnnycakes.[8] The bread can be filled with cheddar cheese.[9][10] It is served cut into triangles and often along with bush tea or coffee.[9]
On Annaberg in Saint John, the docents will sometimes act as bakers and make dumb bread.[3][5]
Preparation
The dough is first made with the dry ingredients combined with butter then milk with shredded coconut being optionally added.[6] The dough is then kneaded and formed into a round loaf.[6] The dough is then allowed to rest.[6] It is then cooked in a skillet or dutch oven over hot coals with additional hot coals on top of the skillet lid to cook the bread from above and below.[1][4][8] The bread is cooked until golden brown and sounding hollow when tapped.[1] The bread requires a resting period after baking or it will be damp and doughy on the inside.[6]