Greek Tsoureki #BreadBakers

Our BreadBakers theme for this April is Easter breads!  There are so many traditional Easter breads around the world, and some that make the rounds at other holidays by changing the shape as well.  Tsoureki is one of those, a delightfully fluffy and flavorful brioche bread from Greece and also well known in Turkey and Armenia.

 

Sometime the bread has red dyed hard cooked eggs baked into it though this is a plain version.  The soft and stringy textured loaf is flavored with two unique spices, mastic resin and mahlab.  The mahlab I have used before, a lovely spice with the floral and sweet flavor of cherry and almond.  The resin is a subtle aroma that reminds me of juniper.  It comes from the mastic tree and is also called the tears of Chios.  A fascinating product with many culinary applications.  It should be stored in the refrigerator.  I tried chewing a couple pearls in the traditional fashion as a sort of gum and found it enjoyable. The combination of mastic and mahlab is lovely and characterizes an authentic Tsoureki.  (I recommend the whole seed for mahlab to preserve the flavor longer.  When ground, it should be kept in the freezer or it will lose flavor.)  Once baked, there is a subtle and uniquely appealing aroma to the bread.  If you cannot find or do not wish to order mastic, ground anise may be substituted, but it won't be the same.  Similarly, almond extract and a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom can replace the mahlab.  I will keep my mastic in the freezer and look for other recipes that use it now that I have seen the possibilities!

 

Tsoureki takes time to rise properly, so plan ahead when making the dough.  Don't add flour, the dough is perfectly workable after rising.  Shape the ropes gently to maintain the characteristic texture.  This bread is perfectly wonderful when fresh and just buttered, and toasts wonderfully but browns quickly so watch to make sure it does not burn.  This is also a bread that does not want to be over baked so watch to make sure it does not do so and dry out.  I found that pieces of tsoureki toasted, buttered, and sprinkled with jaggery were fantastic.  I imagine cinnamon or cardamom sugar sprinkle would be amazing as well.  Actually, since this is not an overwhelmingly sweet bread, I am keen on trying it as a french toast as well though the signature stringiness to the crumb may make that a challenge.  Oh my, it would make phenomenal bread pudding...

Tsoureki  (Traditional Greek Easter bread)
makes 1 large braid
12g dry yeast
55g lukewarm water
1.5g ground mastic
5g ground mahleb 
67g butter at room temperature
115g sugar
150g milk, at room temperature
2 medium eggs, at room temperature (~100g raw)
435g strong white (bread) flour 

¾ tsp sea salt
zest of 1 orange

For garnish
1 egg and 1 tbsp water
almond slivers

In a bowl, activate the yeast by stirring into the lukewarm water with a pinch of sugar.  Cover and set aside for about 6-7 minutes until the yeast is bubbly.  Water that is too warm will kill the yeast and too cold will significantly extend the rise time.  Around body temperature should do. 

Use a pestle or a spice grinder to grind the mastic and mahlab/mahlepi, along with a pinch of the sugar and set aside. Do not add any more mastic than the recipe calls for or it will leave a slightly bitter taste to the bread.  The amount is small and subtle, but enough for the distinctive aroma and flavor.

In a saucepan over low heat, stir together the butter, sugar and milk until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted. Allow to cool to lukewarm.  No more than 110ºF.

Pour the butter mixture in a large bowl and whisk in the eggs.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, salt, the ground mastic and mahlepi, orange zest and the butter-egg mixture, and the activated yeast. Using the dough hook mix on low speed until the ingredients start to combine and then on medium-high speed for about 15 minutes, until the dough doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl while mixing.   The dough will be soft and somewhat sticky.  Do not add more flour, it is meant to be a soft dough.

Cover and place in a warm area, until the dough is at least doubled in size (about 3-4 hours). If the kitchen is cold, preheat the oven for 30 seconds, turn it off and place the bowl inside with the light on.

Gently deflate the dough and cut in 3 equal portions. Take one piece of the dough (do not flour the working surface!) and roll it a little with your hands. Hold the rope up from the edges and give a little bounce to stretch the dough into a rope. This technique helps form the characteristic stringy texture.

Braid the three pieces together and transfer on a large baking tray layered with parchment paper.  Let the braid rise for about 1 more hour at room temperature or in the oven, until it puffs up and almost doubles in size.

In a small bowl whisk together the egg and 1 tbsp water with a fork.  Brush the top of the loaf with the egg mixture, taking care not to deflate it, then garnish with almond slivers.  Bake in preheated oven at 325ºF for about 30-40 minutes, until nicely browned and fluffy.  Cover with foil or parchment if it is getting too brown too quickly, and continue baking.

Let the bread cool down completely and store in a bread bag to keep it from drying out. Store for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to a couple of months in the freezer. 

 

• Chocolate Bunny Bread by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Choreg-Armenian Easter Bread by Sneha’s Recipe
• Greek Tsoureki by A Messy Kitchen
• Jidase by Magical Ingredients
• Orange Blueberry Hot Cross Buns by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Sourdough Carrot Cake Waffles with Cream Cheese Syrup by Food Lust People Love
• Sourdough Choreg-Armenian Easter Bread by Zesty South Indian Kitchen

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.