Korovai Bread: A Delightful Unique Recipe
If you’re feeling adventurous in the kitchen and want to shake up your baking, why not give the delightful Ukrainian specialty known as Korovai Bread a try? This unique bread is a classic for weddings and other special occasions, and is packed with culture, flavor and a wonderful sense of the past.
Using an intriguing mix of ingredients, baking Korovai Bread is not just a delicious endeavor but also a pleasurable and mystical experience. The scent of the baking dough and the arresting display of its colorful dough are a wonder to behold and to share with cherished friends and loved ones.
Ingredients
– 2 pounds strong white bread flour
– 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
– 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
– 1/4 cup lukewarm water
– 2 tablespoons light vegetable oil
– 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
– Around 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water
– 2 eggs
– To decorate: egg wash, poppy seeds, sesame, flaxseed and sunflower seeds
Method
1. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, whisk together the bread flour, yeast, and salt.
2. Add the lukewarm water, vegetable oil, yogurt, and 1 ½ cups of lukewarm water, then mix well until combined. Gradually add the remaining water until a sticky dough forms.
3. Knead the dough for 10 minutes (either by hand or machine), until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover with a damp towel and set aside to rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour.
4. When nearly doubled in size, punch it down and knead gently a few times to knock out some of the air. Divide the dough into two equal portions and roll each portion into a roughly 20”x15” size rectangle.
5. Beat two eggs together with a fork, then brush the dough with the egg wash.
6. Arrange poppy seeds, sesame, flaxseed and sunflower seeds onto the dough.
7. Roll each rectangle into a cylinder and join the two together along one side.
8. Shape the cylinder into a circle, pressing the edges onto the dough to seal it.
9. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Slide the Korovai onto the tray, making sure that the seams are at the bottom. Brush some additional egg wash over the surface and scatter additional hearts, if desired.
10. Bake the Korovai Bread for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until golden and beautiful.
Once cooked and cooled, the gorgeous Korovai Bread is ready to enjoy! The inner dough is fluffy, flavorful and fragrant, with a touch of crunchy and nutty flavor from the seeds. It truly is a distinctive, authentic and unforgettable experience!
Korovai Bread has been around for centuries and is still beloved and sought after today. Back in the day, baking the bread was believed to bring luck and prosperity to those involved in the baking process. While the superstitions have faded, the delight from baking and enjoying the beauty of a freshly made Korovai is still here to stay!
