Spelt Bread with Fig and Walnut

I have been reading a lot about spelt recently. Used in place of whole meal flours it is apparently better for you and full of natural goodness. I am a sucker for such statements and in my never ending quest for the perfect body I decided I had to have some. Am joking about the perfect body, I have had three children so there is no hope. Ok maybe just a small bit of hope. No actually, no hope. :-)

Ingredients

500g spelt flour
300ml lukewarm water
100g dried figs
50g walnuts, chopped
7g dried yeast
1tsp salt
1tsp sugar
1tbsp oil
4tbsp orange juice
3tbsp lukewarm water

Mix the yeast with 3tbsp of lukewarm water and leave for 15 minutes
Mix together the flour, salt and sugar
Stir in the yeast mixture and the 300ml of lukewarm water
Add the oil and knead until you have a smooth dough
Leave aside, covered, to double in size
Chop the figs and walnuts and leave to soak in the orange juice
Turn out the dough onto a floured surface, add the figs and walnuts and knead firmly until fully combined
Shape the dough, I split it into three bits, rolled them into a long sausage shape and then plaited
Place on an oiled baking sheet, cover and leave for 40 minutes to rise
Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes or until golden and crusty
Cool on a wire rack

This makes a really nice textured bread and the walnut and figs mix gives it a nice sweetness and crunch. Well worth getting some spelt to give it a try.

This recipe was courtesy of the back of the Doves Farm spelt flour pack. Interesting recipe for honey and cinnamon cookies there as well which will have to be tested at a later date. Off now for a jog.....over to the kitchen for another slice of bread!