Greek Easter Bread
Ingredients
- For the dough
- 7 eggs
- ½ tsp vegetable oil
- 500 grams Pastry flour
- 1 cube fresh Yeast (42 g)
- 100 grams butter
- 100 grams sugar
- 1 tsp Orange peel
- 1 tsp ground Anise seed
- 1 egg yolk
- 30 grams Sesame seeds
- Ingredients
- Red Easter egg dye
- vegetable oil (for baking dish)
Preparation steps
Hard boil 4 eggs for about 5 minutes. Dye the eggs red, then rub a bit of oil so that they have a slight shine.
Sift the flour into a bowl and make a well in the center. Dissolve the yeast with approximately 6 tablespoons of warm water. Pour in the center, sprinkle with flour, and cover to let rise for about 30 minutes in a warm place.
Soften the butter to room temperature and beat with sugar until creamy, adding eggs one at a time. Vigorously knead the dough, then add the orange peel and anise seed. Shape into a ball, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
Butter an oval baking dish and preheat the oven to 180°C (approximately 350°F)
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead. Divide dough into thirds, rolling each portion into 4 ropes,
"one-third decrease mold the rest to a loaf of about 30 cm (about 12 inches) length and set in the mold. Divide the rest into four strands, strands form in the length of the loaf, two wrap around each other and press the strands at the sides of the loaf."
Mix the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the bread and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let rest for about 15 minutes.
In the middle of the four wells, press the colored eggs into the dough. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.