Newfoundland Toutons

Toutons are a Newfoundland &Labrador original. Toutons are made from a yeast bread dough; traditionally either fried in salted pork fat or cook on a hot flat surface of a stove. It was usually fried in pork fat(lard) and served with homemade baked beans, a complete meal in several of NL homes back in the day. Sometimes, it was served with a little molasses or eaten as a snack. Whenever there was a mixin’ on (making bread), baked beans were always prepared at the same time.

There are many variations of this recipeThe intention wasn’t to make toutons, it was designed to make bread for the family, and as always, there was enough dough left over to make toutons.  Below is one of the bread recipes for toutons. Please enjoy and let me know how it turns out.

Newfoundland Recipes-Toutons1

Toutons

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

1½ tsps dry active yeast

3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbs shortening (or veg oil)

1 tsp salt

Pork fat or veg oil for frying

Method

Dissolve sugar in ½ cup of lukewarm water and add yeast. Cover and let stand until yeast foams (approx 10 minutes).

In a mixing pan, add 3 cups of flour and make a well in centre. Add shortening, salt and dissolved yeast.  Mix mixture utilizing remaining water forming a soft firm dough (add extra flour from 4th cup if necessary).

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for approx 10-12 minutes. Cover with bread-cloth and let rise for 1 hr or until dough doubles in size.

Punch down dough and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut in pieces (size of a walnut). Round them and let rest for approx 10 min. Let proof until dough almost doubles in size. Take each piece of dough; flatten or stretch until ½“ thick.  In a skillet, med-high heat, fry dough in pork fat until golden brown on both sides. Drizzle with molasses and serve with a good cup of steeped tea.