Melandra loaf

Step 1

Line a 20cm/8in round deep cake tin with baking paper and lightly oil.

Step 2

Put the flour into a large bowl, add the yeast and stir thoroughly. Add the salt and sugar and stir again. Add all the dried fruit and the orange zest and mix until all the fruit is lightly coated with flour and not sticking together.

Step 3

Put half the milk into a saucepan, add the lard and heat gently until the lard has melted, then remove from the heat. Add the remaining milk – this should give you a tepid liquid. Gradually work the liquid into the flour mixture until you have a slightly sticky ball of dough. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rest for 30 minutes.

Step 4

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Return to the bowl and cover with the tea towel again. Leave somewhere warm to rise for about 1 hour.

Step 5

When the dough has roughly doubled in size and quickly springs back if you press it with a finger, knead briefly to knock it back, then shape into a round and place in the cake tin. Cover again and leave for a further 40–45 minutes.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

Step 7

When the dough is well risen, bake for 1–1¼ hours until well browned and springy to touch. Remove from the tin and while still warm, brush with the apricot jam. If using, arrange the flaked almonds around the edge.