The Louis Hotels’ Cyprus Koulouri!

The simple daily bread, “Psomi” has been the main staple, especially in frugal times, when the people of Greece and Cyprus would survive on a thick chunk of it with either cheese or a handful of olives and tomato.

Today, Louis Hotels will share the Cypriot ‘Koulouri’ Recipe which refers to the traditional bread of the island.

The recipe makes two loaves. Get ready to enjoy a fabulous freshly baked loaf of bread!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of wheat flour
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup anise seeds
• 1/4 nigella seeds (optional)

Instructions

Put the flour, salt, yeast, and water in a large bowl and whisk together. Knead for 5 minutes or use the dough hook on your stand mixer for about 3 minutes. Let the dough stand in the bowl for at least 40 minutes, until almost doubled in size. Mix the seeds in a large bowl and dampen with warm water – this helps the seeds release their flavour and stick on the bread. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone liner. Shape the dough into two loafs, dusting your surface with flour, as necessary. Coat the loafs of dough with the seeds in the bowl. Place on baking sheet and let rise for 20 more minutes. Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes in a preheated oven at 180°C, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when rapped on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

And…there you go! Freshly baked ‘Koulouri’ is ready to be devoured!