Direwolf Bread

Click here to see where this recipe is featured in Game of Thrones.

Probably the most iconic food from Game of Thrones is the the loaf of bread that the character Hot Pie gives Arya as a goodbye present. It’s a bitter sweet moment in the show for Arya’s character. I’ve wanted to make this recipe for a long time, but I had never made bread before and didn’t know really where to start. I did my research and came up with a great dough recipe that is going to hold its shape during baking and taste great too.

Start by adding one package of dry active yeast to a bowl and filling with two and a half cups of tepid water, meaning not too cold or hot. Add a pinch of sugar to activate the yeast, give it a stir and let it sit for 8-10 minutes. In a large glass bowl, add one kilogram of bread flour. This recipe is going to make quite a lot of dough and should be enough for four loafs of bread. Create a well, or indention in the flour, in the center of your bowl to add the water and yeast mixture. Add a tablespoon of salt to the center of the well and slowly stream in the water while stirring with a fork. Try not to incorporate all the flour at once. Slowly bring the dough together by scraping flour  from the sides of the bowl into the well, a little at a time.  The dough with seem very shaggy or dry at first, but keep stirring until the dough cant be mixed with a fork. At this point your ready to turn out your dough onto a countertop or cutting board. Generously flour your work surface so the dough doesn’t stick. Kneading the bread dough is probably the most fun part of this recipe. If this is your first time kneading dough, I would recommend watching a quick tutorial on Youtube. After you’ve kneaded the dough for about ten minuets, place the dough in a clean glass bowl and cover with a kitchen towel to let the dough rise or “proof.” After an hour, or when the dough has doubled in size, place the dough back onto your floured work surface. Knead for another minute or two to deflate the dough. Cut the dough into four equal parts and let rise for another hour. Take one the dough quarters and a floured rolling pin and roll the dough into an oval that is about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. Now take a knife and cut out the shape of your direwolf. It helps to be looking at a picture of the original while your cutting. When your happy with the design, place into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. For a darker crust, brush your bread dough with an egg wash before placing in the oven.

** Spoiler Warning **

Since the bread is in the shape of a wolf, I think this is a good opportunity to discuss house Stark. From the first season, the Stark family has had to deal with diversity; Ned stark being executed, Rob starting a war to avenge his father, Sansa being held captive by the Lannisters. During the first season, Ned’s character investigates the murder of his mentor, Jon Arryn. Ned was an honorable character and when he learns a terrible secret about the queen, Cersei Lannister, instead of using this to his advantage, he decides to give her a warning. His decision to be merciful was what killed him in the end. Throughout the series the remaining members of house Stark slowly lose their own sense of honor and morality in order to survive. It illustrates how dangerous the world of Game of Thrones is and proves that the good guy doesn’t always win just because. Now that the show is in its final season, I am interested in seeing how this change in character will help the remaining Starks overcome the challenges that lie ahead.