Cucumber Bread Cups

Days when I am at home studying(?!), I constantly look for something interesting to eat. And chips or fries are not options anymore since they make me drowsy and of course, the obvious reason - they are loaded with empty calories! A quest for tasty yet somewhat healthy snack has led me to discover/invent quite a few interesting and quick recipes. Some work while some flop. This is one of those that has worked.

 

For this recipe, I made the dough from scratch. But you can easily use readily available bread (which again, I have tried). They are basically bread cups filled with vegetables. And since they look cuter than a sandwich, (which is basically the same thing in a different form) both me & my brother enjoy eating them. They can be served as appetizers or for an evening snack. And the filling can be whatever you want it to be. I decided to let cucumber dominate the dish this time. :)

 

* The pictures are from the 1st attempt and so not really perfect. I usually don't have the patience to click pics of the food more than once. But I've made suitable changes to get the perfect bread cup.

RECIPE
(Print this recipe)
Makes 10 cups
Ingredients
For the bread cup
All purpose flour / wheat flour - 150 grams
Dry Yeast - 3/4 teaspoon
Sugar - 1/2 teaspoon
Water - 80 ml
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2-3 tablespoons
Cup molds
For the filling
Cucumber - 2, chopped finely
Onion - 1, chopped (optional)
Tomato ketchup/sauce - as required
Cheese - 2 tablespoons or as required
Oregano - as required, optional

Method
To make the bread cups
1) Add sugar to warm water & mix till it dissolves.

2) Add yeast & mix for 1 minute. Set aside for 5 min. It will turn frothy.

 

3) In a mixing bowl, add flour, salt, oil & mix.

 

4) Add yeast-water & knead for 10 minutes to form a soft dough. Set aside for 30 minutes or until it doubles up in size.

5) Apply oil to the cupcake molds
6) Pinch of a small ball of dough & roll it 1/2 inch thick

 

7) Place the rolled dough to the cupcake mold & stick it to all sides using your fingers. In the pic, I have tried sticking both on the inside and outside. I find that sticking it inside works better.

 

8) Apply some oil on the dough & Bake at 180C/360F for 8-10 minutes.

To assemble
1) Apply sauce to the bread cups.
 
2) place a spoonful of chopped onions. Then top it with a bit of grated cheese & then sauce again.

3) Place some chopped cucumbers next & again repeat the process of sauce & cheese.

4) Depending upon the size of your cups, keep filling.the cups it they are full. Finish with some oregano & cheese

5) Bake for 8 minutes @ 180C or Microwave them for 3-4 minutes at full power.

ALTERNATIVELY, to the insides of cupcake mold, apply oil.
- With your fingers, stick a slice of bread (edges removed) to the cup.
- Fill it with the filling of your choice
- Bake at 180C for 8-10 minutes