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Salty Danube

17/11/2023

The Salty Danube is a leavened bread that is greatly appreciated in Italian cuisine for its versatility and delicious flavor. It is made up of many soft dough balls that hide a tasty filling inside. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of flour type 00
  • 250 ml of lukewarm milk
  • 12 g of fresh yeast
  • 50 g of sugar
  • 80 g of soft butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 10 g of salt
  • Assorted fillings to taste (for example cooked ham, salami, cheeses such as mozzarella or scamorza, etc.)
  • A pinch of pepper
  • Olive oil for brushing (optional)

For the finishing:

  • As much melted butter as needed
  • Oregano or other herbs to taste

Preparation

  1. Dissolve the fresh yeast in the lukewarm milk with sugar and let it rest for a few minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, sift in the flour and make a well in the center.
  3. Add the previously beaten eggs, the mixture of milk and yeast, and start kneading.
  4. Add the salt and continue kneading.
  5. Gradually incorporate the soft butter in small pieces and work the dough until it is smooth and elastic.
  6. Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size (about 2 hours).
  7. Once risen, divide the dough into small portions (about 40-50 g each).
  8. Flatten each portion with your hands and place the chosen filling in the center; close well forming a ball.
  9. Arrange the balls in a previously oiled baking tray, making sure to leave some space between them.
  10. Let it rise again for about 30 minutes.
  11. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  12. Brush the surface of the balls with some oil or melted butter, and sprinkle with oregano or other herbs to taste.
  13. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
  14. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Curiosity

The Danube, although originally from Campania, gets its name from the Danube River as the appearance of the attached balls resembles the bends of a river. A variant of the more famous potato bread, it can be personalized with different fillings, from the classic version with cured meats and cheeses, to more creative variants with vegetables, pesto, or other flavors.

Salty Danube