Bannock
A plain quick bread of flour, fat and baking powder, fried in a cast-iron pan until golden. Made by Indigenous cooks across Canada, and eaten with jam or honey.
Method
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Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Rub in the shortening with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
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Add the water and stir with a fork until a soft dough forms. Do not overwork it.
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Turn onto a floured surface, knead 5 or 6 times, then pat into a round 2 cm thick. Cut into 6 wedges.
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Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or heavy frying pan over medium-low heat. Fry the wedges for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until deep golden and cooked through in the middle.
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Drain briefly and eat warm.
Chef’s Tips
- Keep the heat medium-low. High heat browns the outside before the thick dough is cooked.
- Handle the dough as little as you can. Overworked bannock is tough.
- Tap a wedge. It should sound hollow and feel light when it is done.
Pairing Suggestions
- Jam or honey
- A bowl of soup
- Butter and berries
Storage & Reheating
Best eaten the day it is made. Keep in an airtight bag up to 2 days and warm in a dry pan. Freezes for 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Bannock take to make?
About 30 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Bannock?
Keep the heat medium-low. High heat browns the outside before the thick dough is cooked. Handle the dough as little as you can. Overworked bannock is tough. Tap a wedge. It should sound hollow and feel light when it is done.
What should I serve with Bannock?
Jam or honey; A bowl of soup; Butter and berries.
Can Bannock be made ahead or frozen?
Best eaten the day it is made. Keep in an airtight bag up to 2 days and warm in a dry pan. Freezes for 2 months.
Is Bannock suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Bannock?
About 288 kcal per serving, with 5 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.