Slightly sweet and rich with eggs, this Tsoureki bread is common throughout Central Asia, but is most famously made in Greece as part of their celebration of Easter.
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Tsoureki
How to make the traditional Greek Easter bread.
- 40 mins cooking
- Serves 10
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Ingredients
Tsoureki (traditional greek easter bread)
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 cup water
- 100 gram sugar
- 500 gram flour (high gluten)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mahlepi
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry yeast
- 6 whole eggs (2 eggs for the egg wash)
- 100 gram unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
Method
Tsoureki (traditional greek easter bread)
- 1Heat water but not to boiling point, place in mixer, add the orange juice and sugar.
- 2Place flour, salt, mahlepi, vanilla sugar and dry yeast in a bowl and thoroughly mix all the dry ingredients; add this to mixer at low speed.
- 3Add 4 eggs, melt the butter with the milk, pour the melted butter and milk gradually into the mixture whilst mixing for approximately 20 minutes.
- 4Turn out the whole mixture onto workbench and cover with a towel. Leave it to rise and become double in size.
- 5Divide it into 3 equal pieces, take each piece and roll it with your hands into a long strand. Do this to all 3 pieces, then create a plait while it is on a baking tray.
- 6When it becomes double in size, add the red egg and lightly brush the whole tsoureki with the egg wash (you may add optional sesame seeds).
- 7Place in preheated oven at 150°C for approx 40 minutes or until golden brown; allow to cool on tray.
