
Veggie Venezuelan 'Ham' Bread
by Valentina Rojas
This is a plant-based take on the traditional Venezuelan Pan de Jamón, a beloved Christmas dish dating back to 1910. It features a savory-sweet filling of olives, raisins, and vegetables rolled in a wholesome mixed-grain dough.
Total Time
65 mins
Difficulty
Medium

Simple Tasty Recipes
Ingredients for 8 Servings
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1 packageMixed-grain or Wholemeal Bread Mix
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1garlic clove
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1onion
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1/2red sweet pepper
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4 or 5calamata olives
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4 or 5green olives
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to tastethyme
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1 handfulraisins
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as neededolive oil
-
as neededmolasses
Time
-
Preparation Time45 mins
-
Cooking Time20 mins
-
Total Time65 mins
Goes Great with
Method
- Prepare the dough as indicated in the package (usually it only needs to add warm water).
- Extend the dough and cover with a tiny layer of olive oil, rub the chopped garlic clove, and cover with the rest of the vegetables, finely chopped.
- Spread the thyme and the raisins, roll it and let it rise for 30 minutes in a warm place (cover with a damp cloth).
- Before putting it into a preheated oven (230°C / gas mark 8), cover it with a layer of olive oil and molasses.
- Bake until brown (about 20 minutes).
Notes:
This is the vegetarian version of a unique Venezuelan bread, traditionally filled with cooked ham, bacon, green olives and raisins. This bread has been eaten in Venezuela as a traditional Christmas dish since 1910. Its creator died in anonymity, perhaps a humble but creative spanish-inmigrant baker. I adapted the original recipe and baked the vegetarian version and my father (meat-eater) couldn't notice the difference!
Serving info: Total recipe: 800g · Yields 8 portions · Portion size: 100g
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per Portion | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 290 | 290 | 14.5% |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 49 | 49 | 18% |
| ↳ of which sugars (g) | 9 | 9 | - |
| Dietary fiber (g) | 4 | 4 | 14% |
| Protein (g) | 8 | 8 | 16% |
| Total fat (g) | 5 | 5 | 6% |
| ↳ saturated (g) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 4% |
| ↳ monounsaturated (g) | 3.2 | 3.2 | - |
| ↳ polyunsaturated (g) | 0.8 | 0.8 | - |
| ↳ trans (g) | 0 | 0 | - |
| Sodium (mg) | 380 | 380 | 16% |
| Calcium (mg) | 60 | 60 | 5% |
| Iron (mg) | 2.1 | 2.1 | 12% |
| Potassium (mg) | 180 | 180 | 4% |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 12 | 12 | 13% |
| Vitamin B12 (µg) | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Ingredient data sources
- Wholemeal Bread Mix — 500g — Bread, whole-wheat, commercially prepared — USDA Foundation Foods
- Onion — 110g — Onions, raw — USDA SR Legacy
- Red sweet pepper — 60g — Peppers, sweet, red, raw — USDA SR Legacy
- Olives — 40g — Olives, ripe, canned (small-extra large) — USDA SR Legacy
- Raisins — 40g — Raisins, dark, seedless — USDA Foundation Foods
- Olive oil — 27g — Oil, olive, salad or cooking — USDA SR Legacy
- Molasses — 20g — Molasses — USDA SR Legacy
⚠️ = estimated or sourced outside the listed databases.
% Daily Value based on FDA 2020 Daily Values for adults (2,000 kcal diet).
Goes Great with























