Tapalapa (Senegalese Soft Bread)
In short: Soft, lightly sweet yeast loaves with a thin golden crust and tender crumb, made for butter, omelettes, beans or chocolate spread. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 260 kcal
Tapalapa is the soft, lightly sweet bread sold warm from small bakeries and street stalls across Senegal every morning. It has a thin crust and a tender, airy crumb that suits both sweet and savory fillings: butter, chocolate spread, fried eggs, beans or grilled meat. The dough is easy and forgiving, with a short rise, and it makes two long loaves that stay soft for a day.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the oil and warm water and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky.
- Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled.
- Divide the dough in two. Press each piece into a rectangle, roll it up tightly from the long side and pinch the seam closed. Roll gently to about 30 cm (12 inches).
- Place the loaves on a lined baking sheet, cover loosely and rest for 40 minutes until puffy. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and put an empty pan on the bottom shelf.
- Slash the tops 3 times. Pour a cup of hot water into the empty pan to make steam and bake the loaves for 22 to 25 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when tapped underneath.
- Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.
Tips
- For a softer crust, brush the hot loaves with a little oil as they come out of the oven and cover them with a cloth for 10 minutes.
- Day-old tapalapa makes excellent toast. Freeze sliced loaves for up to 2 months and toast from frozen.
Questions and answers
How is tapalapa different from a baguette?
Tapalapa has a softer crust and a slightly sweet, tender crumb, while a baguette is crusty with an open, chewy interior. It is made for sandwiches and dunking.
What do Senegalese people eat with tapalapa?
Common partners are butter, chocolate spread, fried eggs, black-eyed peas and grilled meat, usually with sweet spiced coffee.
Can I use all-purpose flour?
Yes, but the crumb will be a little less chewy. Start with 20 ml (4 tsp) less water, since all-purpose flour absorbs less.
How long does it take to make Tapalapa (Senegalese Soft Bread)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tapalapa (Senegalese Soft Bread)?
About 260 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 49 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 260 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
