1996. Cypriot Sesame Bread Loaf

Breads are much like tea in that every culture has their own versions of it. This Cypriot seeded bread is quaint, pre-sliced as a dough into eight portions so it very easy to break apart. The dough is mildly flavored with some spices and then topped with a mix of sesame and nigella seeds.

Ingredients:

500g strong white bread flour

225ml lukewarm milk

100ml lukewarm water

2 tsp instant dry yeast 

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves 

1 Tbsp olive oil 

1 1/2 tsp salt 

1 tsp sugar

For brushing: 

1 Tbsp flour 

1 tsp water 

1 tsp milk 

For coating:

4 Tbsp sesame seeds

1 tsp Nigella seeds 

1/4 tsp aniseed

Method:

In a measuring jug mix together the milk, water and oil, and stir in the yeast. Leave to one side for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place everything in a stand mixer and mix with dough hooks for 10 minutes. 

Spread a little oil over the dough, place back in the bowl and cover the bowl with clingfilm and a clean tea towel. Leave somewhere warm / room temperature (but not in a cold room) to prove for an hour until it doubles in size. 

After an hour, take the dough out of the bowl and gently punch down on it a little for a few seconds. 

Roll the slightly flattened dough into a long (30cm) chunky sausage shape, slightly pointed at each end. Using a dough cutter / saucer, cut horizontally through the dough in 8 separate places to create 8 segments. Gently push the pieces back together and brush with the flour, water and milk mixture.  Carefully lift up the shaped dough and place on the tray of seeds, coating the bread all over so that no seeds remain. 

Place the dough on a deep baking tray lined with baking paper and cover with a tea towel. Leave it somewhere warm again to prove for another hour. 

While the dough is proving, preheat your oven to 450F. 

Once the dough has finished proving for the second time, place the tray onto the middle shelf, and thrown in a little water from a cup at the bottom of the oven (to create steam) and quickly close the oven door. Bake for around 25 minutes until beautifully golden brown, and let it cool a little before breaking into it. 

صحة و عافية