An easy recipe for "tsoureki" the Greek sweet bread with olive oil, so much tasty and full of flavor, so light and above all... healthy! The perfect accompaniment to a morning coffee or to an afternoon tea brake... Just try it!!!
Ingredients:
Prepare the leaven: In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 4 tablespoons of flour. Mix the igredients together, cover the bowl and let stand for 20 minutes, until bubbly.
In another big bowl pour the olive oil, orange juice, add the sugar, aromatics (orange zest and vanilla extract) and the salt and mix. Finally add the leaven and the flour little by little kneading it in at the same time until you get a dough smoothy and shiny. Oil the dough slightly and place in a big bowl covered with a cloth set aside in a warm place and let the dough rise for 1 hour and 30 minutes, until doubled in bulk. Deflate the dough, divide into 4 balls and form in shapes (braid, snail etc.). Place tsoureki loaves on a non-stick baking sheet, covered with a towel, and let them rise again for 20 minutes, until almost doubled in bulk. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 160oC – 180oC (depending on the oven). If you want your loaves to have a nice sheen brush them with milk or an egg yolk mixed with some milk. Sprinkle with the almond slivers and bake for about 30 minutes or until nice and golden.
Tip:
Authentic Greek flavor! Just try it !