Poi (Taro) Bread

Poi (Taro) Bread

November 17: National Homemade Bread Day

We took a drive down to the “Southernmost Bakery in the USA” when we went to the Big Island of Hawaii with Islander’s ohana (family). Punaluu Bake Shop was where we all stopped for snacks and stocked up on sweet breads. We loved all of their light, fresh-baked fluffy loaves—traditional Portuguese and guava and taro flavors.

Having made “mainland” poi for an earlier blog recipe post, Islander decided to use up the leftovers and bake bread inspired by the one from Punaluu Bake Shop. It turned out to be a tasty taro bread with a pretty purple hue!

Prepare poi (taro) bread in a machine for a sweet and simple loaf with a tropical touch. It is a unique and onolicious way to observe National Homemade Bread Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from the Polynesian Cultural Center via Food.com)

Ingredients

  • ½ cup poi (or mashed taro paste)
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon yeast
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon purple food coloring
  • 3 ¼ cup flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

In the container of the bread machine, place the water, yeast, sugar, butter and egg. Spoon in the poi. Add the purple food coloring, if desired. Top with flour and salt. Place the container in the bread machine.

Poi (Taro) Bread

Set the bread machine to a large (2 pound) loaf, as this bread rises high. Select the cycles for sweet or white bread with a light crust. Press to start. Notice that the purple color blends nicely into the dough. Let the bread machine continue kneading, rising and baking. Remove the baked bread from the container. Cool completely before slicing.

Poi (Taro) Bread

Notes