Shaping Bread Basket

by Stella Dias (Sri Lanka)

Lattice Mat & Bread Basket (Kid-Friendly Recipe)

Makes: 2 flatbreads or 1 basket
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 20 minutes

🧺 What You’ll Need
1 ½ cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour works too)
1 packet active dry yeast (about 1 teaspoon)
1 ½ tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup warm water
1 egg (crack into a bowl and beat it with a fork – you’ll use part of it in the dough and the rest to brush on top)
1 ½ tablespoons melted butter (plus a little more for greasing)

🥣 Let’s Make the Dough!
In a big mixing bowl, add the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir it all together with a spoon.
Pour in the warm water and half the beaten egg (save the rest for later). Stir until it starts to form a dough.
Add the melted butter and mix again. Then use clean hands to knead it until it's smooth and stretchy – about 10 minutes.
Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.

🧵 Let’s Shape the Bread
After 30 minutes, press the dough down to remove air. Shape it into a ball and let it sit for 10 more minutes.
Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a big square – about 1/8-inch thick (like thin cookie dough).
Cut the dough into 2½-inch wide strips. You’ll use these to make a mat or basket!

🧩 To Make a Lattice Mat
On a greased baking tray, weave your strips over and under to make a basket pattern (like a checkerboard) in a square shape — about 8x8 inches.
Use any leftover strips to make a border around the edges.
Let it rise again for 35 minutes in a warm spot.
Brush the top with the leftover egg.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes until golden brown.

🧺 To Make a Bread Basket
Grease a metal bowl (about 7 inches wide) with butter or cooking spray.
On a piece of oiled parchment paper, weave your dough into a checkerboard shape.
Carefully lift the paper and place the dough inside the bowl so it forms a basket shape.
Add extra strips around the rim for a nice edge.
Put the bowl on a baking tray. Let it rise for 35 minutes.
Brush with leftover egg.
Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. If it gets too brown too fast, cover it with foil.
Let cool, then gently pull the bread basket off the bowl.

🍯 Serve & Enjoy!
Use your bread mat or basket to serve snacks, butter, jam, or fruit. It's fun and delicious!