Damper Food

AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) Grease a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and the salt. With pastry blender or your hands, cut in butter. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 8 inches across. Place the loaf onto the prepared pan and using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue to bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.

DAMPER

Steps:

• Add the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
• Start mixing with a spoon and slowly add in the water (or milk).
• Add the salt and mix with the hands until all the flour is well moistened and it begins to form a ball. If necessary, add water (or milk) or flour to adjust the texture.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface, fold it, turn it over and knead it briefly until it is smooth. However, do not knead the dough too much as this will make the damper heavy.
• Preheat the oven to 410°F / 200°C.
• Heat a cast iron pot or Dutch oven in the oven for 5 minutes. Dust the pot with flour and add the dough in it. Flatten the ball of dough to the edges.
• Bake the damper for about 45 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
• The bread will swell during baking.
• Shake the pot from time to time during baking to ensure even browning.
• The bread is baked when a knife inserted in the center of it comes out clean. The bread should offer a hollow sound when tapped in the center.
• Let the damper sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• The best way to make this is to mix together the dry ingredients then add the liquid and butter and mix well and then knead it for about 5 minutes.
• Then wrap it in a double layer of greased foil and place it in the coals of the campfire, poking it in and retrieving it a bit later hoping it's done.
• I've also had it where you just throw the dough into the coals and pull off the blacked outside when it's done and eat the inner part.
• To cook it in the oven preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar and mix well. Rub or cut in the butter. Stir in the milk to form a dough.
• Shape into a flattened ball and place on a greased baking sheet or in a round cake tin and bake for about 30 minutes.
• Doing it this way though is not traditional and just won't taste the same.
• You eat it straight away while still hot in thick slices with butter, golden syrup, jam or vegemite.
• This is great camping food and always brings back many happy camping memories.

EASY AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375F / 190C /gas mark 4.
• Sift flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl, rub in the butter.
• Stir in milk and enough water to mix to a sticky dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until just smooth.
• Place dough onto a greased baking tray and press into a 16cm round.
• Cut a cross in the dough, about 1cm deep; brush with a little extra milk then sprinkle with a little extra flour; bake for about 45 minutes; lift onto a wire rack to cool.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH BREAD - DAMPER

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the middle.
• Pour in the milk and mix.
• Grease the camp oven or round baking pan and dust with flour.
• Place dough in the camp oven or pan.
• Cut a cross in the top surface of dough.
• Close lid of camp oven and bake in the hot ashes of your camp fire for about thirty minutes, or bake in preheated normal kitchen oven for 30 minutes at 220° C (425° F).
• Eat with a cup of tea, boiled in a billy.