Cooking Bread Without an Oven

‘How can you live by eating only bread for meals?’ is a question that a Lao person would certainly ask a North American. It is commonly said here that bread cannot fill a person up; sticky rice must be part of every meal! In fact when you ask a person what they have eaten everyone assumes rice and thus questions of this nature are phrased, ‘What did you eat with your rice? (Kin khao kup nyang?). ’ Conversely, a North American would surely ask, ‘How can you live by eating only rice for every meal?’

Squash Bread

So how, (you might be wondering) are we fairing? Do you have bread to eat in addition to all the rice that is locally available? Since you don’t have an oven can you even make your own bread? These are all good questions, and we are now proud to say that bread has come to at least one kitchen in Tha Thom!

On our last visit to the capital, Vientiane, we managed to purchase flour in bulk (22kilos) and split it four ways with the other North American MCC’ers. We then found a large 20 liter pot with a lid at the market. Both of these supplies we lugged back to Tha Thom with high hopes of mouthwatering fresh baked bread!

The Setup

Since our only heat source for cooking is wood the first step was to build an oven. After getting a nice bed of coals we set the upside- down pot lid on top of the fire and placed two bricks on it. We then placed the bread pan full of dough on top of the bricks and then put the inverted pot over the entire pile! Our first loaf of sweet monkey bread turned out pretty well, other than raising a mile or so. Since this first attempt we have baked three more loaves with relative success!

A Small Loaf and English Muffins

Egg Sandwiches for Lunch

Having bread sure gives us more diversity in meals. We are very excited to have French toast and sandwiches back on the menu!