Corn has quite an important role in Portuguese bread culture. Several traditional breads are made with corn flour, such as Broa or Trigamilha. To this day my 70 year old neighbor grows her own corn, mills it and bakes it into "broas de milho" in her wood fired oven. The same way she grew up seeing her mother do. Wrapped in a kitchen towel they will last a week and will feed the whole family. And there is not a time when we are not offered one, still warm. Bread is life. Bread is community. 

 

This bread is made with a special yellow corn called "Milho Real" grown in the southern regions of Portugal. This type of corn is specially selected for its intense flavor and color. Coated with corn semolina, its crust is crispy. The crumb is somewhat sweet, with a yellowish color, and dotted with pumpkin seeds for extra texture, flavor and nutrition.