Festive Homemade Surprise Bread
Festive Homemade Surprise Bread is a medium French recipe that serves 5. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by Norbert Tarayre on YouTube.
Prep: 4 hrs 55 min | Cook: 45 min | Total: 6 hrs 10 min
Cost: $39.30 total, $7.86 per serving
Ingredients
- 600 g Rye flour (Sift before use)
- 280 g Wheat flour type 55 (If possible, use type 65 for more strength)
- 600 g Water (Room temperature)
- 25 g Fresh baker's yeast (Divide: 2 g for the starter, 23 g for the final dough)
- 18 g Salt (Add last)
- 500 g Unsalted butter (Soften at room temperature then whisk into a cream)
- 10 g Fresh ginger (Finely chop)
- 1 lemon Lemon zest (Use finely grated zest)
- 80 g Onion (Slice then caramelize over low heat)
- 6 g Espelette pepper (Coarsely grind)
- 400 g Canned chickpeas (Drain and rinse)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Crush)
- 100 g Argan oil (Nutty flavor, keep refrigerated)
- 100 g Olive oil (Extra virgin)
- 120 g Sour cream (To make the hummus creamy)
- 200 g Cream cheese (Philadelphia type) (Slightly soften)
- 10 g Chives (Finely chopped)
- 100 g Smoked salmon (Slice thinly)
- 100 g Pastrami (Slice into thin strips)
- 100 g Duck mousse (Optional, spreadable)
Instructions
Prepare the starter
Mix 100 g rye flour, 170 g wheat flour, 70 g water and 2 g fresh yeast. Stir until you obtain a very soft and creamy dough. Cover with plastic film and let ferment 1 h at room temperature until the volume doubles.
Time: PT1H10M
Mix the main dough
In a large bowl, combine 600 g rye flour, 280 g wheat flour, 600 g water, 23 g fresh yeast and 18 g salt. Add the fermented starter. Mix by hand or with the mixer hook for 10‑12 minutes until you obtain a homogeneous and slightly sticky dough.
Time: PT15M
First fermentation (bulk fermentation)
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic film. Let rest 1 h30 at room temperature until the dough has risen about 30 %.
Time: PT1H30M
Shape the bread and place in the pan
Lightly dust the bottom of the tin with flour. Pour the dough into the pan, smooth the top with a damp spatula. Fold a small edge of the dough to create a smooth surface.
Time: PT10M
Second fermentation (proof)
Cover the pan and let rest 45 minutes at room temperature. The dough should almost double in volume.
Time: PT45M
Preheat the oven
Turn on the oven and preheat to 270 °C for 5 minutes.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 270°C
Bake the surprise bread
Put the pan in the center of the oven. Bake 45 minutes at 270 °C, injecting steam at the start (pour a little water onto the tray). The bread should be well browned and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Time: PT45M
Temperature: 270°C
Lemon‑ginger butter
Divide 250 g softened butter in two. In a bowl, whisk one half with 10 g finely chopped fresh ginger and the zest of one lemon. Lightly salt. Refrigerate.
Time: PT15M
Onion‑Espelette pepper butter
Caramelize the sliced onion in a small saucepan with a drizzle of olive oil. Let cool, then mix with the remaining 250 g butter, 6 g Espelette pepper and a pinch of salt. Whisk until homogeneous.
Time: PT15M
Homemade hummus (roumousse)
In a food processor, blend 400 g drained chickpeas, 2 garlic cloves, 100 g argan oil, 100 g olive oil, 120 g sour cream, the juice of half a lemon, salt to taste. Adjust texture with a little water if needed.
Time: PT10M
Chive cream cheese
Mix 200 g cream cheese with 10 g finely chopped chives, a pinch of salt and pepper. Refrigerate.
Time: PT5M
Assembly and serving
Let the bread cool 30 minutes, then unmold and cut into 10 to 12 slices about 1 cm thick. Spread each slice with the various butters, hummus, cream cheese, smoked salmon or pastrami, and optionally duck mousse. Arrange the toppings decoratively.
Time: PT15M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 350
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 45 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Dietary info: contains fish, contains meat, low-calorie, high-fiber
Allergens: gluten, milk, fish, sesame (argan oil), egg (in duck mousse depending on preparation)
Last updated: April 7, 2026






