Indulge in the cuisine of Mordor from Tolkien’s Middle Earth with this black beer onion bread slathered with pungent black garlic butter.
Winter in Middle Earth
With the cold days and long nights of winter coming upon us, let us imagine the hearty and rustic fare that would warm tables across JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth. As the nights lengthen and the days grow dark, we can wonder at what foods would be served in the great halls of the Dwarven kings or at the lavish feast tables of the Elven kingdoms. What delicacies would be served by the hobbits, snug in their cozy hobbit holes as the winds of winter howl across the land? Let us explore together some of the culinary delights from different lands for a Winter Feast in Middle Earth.
In Mordor
Warmed by the fiery fumes of Mt Doom, the orcs huddle together against the stark winter weather on the barren Plateau of Gorgoroth. With little food available, they content themselves to make rustic bread flavoured with charred onions and black beer. Fermented black garlic is pounded into butter for a pungent, slightly sweet topping that pairs perfectly with the malted beer notes. While the ferocious orcs might prefer a meal of roasted meat, a slice of this black beer onion bread pulled from the fire and topped with black garlic butter would certainly fare them well on a cold winter night in Mordor.
Ingredients
Stout beer: This recipe calls for stout which gives a rich colour and flavour to the bread. However, the recipe would work with another type of beer if desired. To make this non-alcoholic, you could use water although the flavour would be slightly altered.
Baking powder: This bread uses baking powder as the leavening agent.
Black garlic: Black garlic is garlic that has been slowly fermented at a warm temperature to cause the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction is what happens when food ‘browns’ or caramelizes. As a result, the garlic turns dark brown or black in colour, has a soft, chewy texture, and has a sweet taste. The method for making black garlic originated in Asia and it can often be found in Asian market or online here.
Onions: I used regular yellow onions, but you could use sweet onions instead.
How to make Black Beer Onion Bread with Black Garlic Butter
Sauté the onions
Place a skillet over medium heat and add 2 tbsp butter. Add the sliced onions and sprinkle with a little kosher salt. Stirring regularly, sauté the onions until tender and just beginning to brown. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature before using.
Make the bread dough
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a cast iron skillet, or baking sheet, with parchment paper and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and kosher salt. Rub the remaining 2 tbsp butter into the dry ingredients until finely crumbled. Add three quarters of the sautéed onions to the mixing bowl and stir into the dry ingredients. Reserve the remaining onions to use later.
Add the stout to the dry ingredients and mix together with a wooden spoon. Switch to using your hands when the mixture becomes stiff and lightly knead until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a ball and transfer to the prepared cast iron skillet. Use a sharp knife to score a cross on top. Scatter the remaining onions over the dough.
Bake the bread
Bake for 15 minutes and then loosely tent the bread with a piece of foil. This will prevent the onions from burning before the bread is fully baked. Continue to bake for another 35 to 45 minutes until the bread is fully cooked and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. If desired, the foil can be removed during the last few minutes to brown the onions and bread. Transfer to a rack and cool.
Make the black garlic butter
Make the black garlic butter while the bread is baking. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the butter, black garlic, and kosher salt. Blend until the black garlic is well mixed into the butter – there may be some black flecks left but the garlic should be almost completely broken down. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Transfer to a serving bowl. Black garlic butter should be stored long term in the fridge.
Serve the Black Beer Onion Bread with Black Garlic Butter
This bread and butter are best enjoyed warm. Serve the black beer onion bread slathered with the black garlic butter and enjoy!
