Tsoureki ~ Greek Easter Bread Recipe
Tsoureki (τσουρέκι – pronounced tsoo-RE-kee) is the traditional plaited Greek Easter bread with a texture similar to brioche. It is very delicious and goes very well with a coffee or tea, or whatever you like to drink.
The ingredient used to give tsoureki that special taste is Mastiha ( μαστίχα – pronounced mahs-TEE-hah) which comes from the island of Chios.
These small and very hard little pieces of resin from the tree are known as tears of mastiha. They must be ground in a mortar and pestle with a little sugar otherwise it is very difficult to grind them into powder.
Tsoureki Ingredients
(Makes 4 loaves of Tsoureki )
- 8 cups of strong flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
- 3 small packets of dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- zest of an orange and lemon
- 4 large eggs
- 1 egg beaten for brushing over the bread
- 4-5 tears of mastiha
- Flaked Almonds and 8 red dyed hard boiled eggs for decoration
Method
- Dissolve the active dried yeast in lukewarm milk with the sugar and 1 cup of the flour. Cover and leave for about 30mins until bubbly.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over a low heat, add the orange and lemon zest and mastiha.
- Take off heat and beat in eggs and leave to cool.
- Mix the yeast mixture with above mixture and gradually add flour (with salt) and cover and leave for about 2 hours (until doubled in size).
- Knock back dough on a floured board and cut into 4 pieces. Leave to stand for a few minutes and shape each piece into 3 sausage like shapes (about 10 – 12 inches long).
- Secure them together at one end and then braid and secure at the other end.
- Place the 4 easter breads on a baking tray, cover and leave to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Mix the remaining egg and lightly brush over the 4 pieces of bread. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and gently push two red eggs into each loaf.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 1 hour or until lightly golden and then sprinkle with sugar and leave to cool.
(καλή όρεξη)Good Appetite
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