Yummy Tsoureki Recipe

Easter is around the corner, so Louis Hotels found it fitting to present the Easter Tsoureki! The Easter Tsoureki is a kind of pastry made throughout Greece on Easter. Take a look!

You’ll need the following ingredients to make two loaves of Tsoureki:

2 cups of milk

2 (8 gr) envelopes of active dry yeast

7 cups of bread flour

1 ¾ cups of sugar

1 cup of almonds (very finely chopped)

1 tsp of salt

1 orange, the zest, grated

1 tsp of mahlepi

1 tsp of ground mastic

1/4 cup unsalted butter melted

5 eggs, very well beaten

How to make:

Warm two cups of milk and then place the milk in a large bowl. Add the yeast, one cup of the flour and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Cover the mixture and proof for one hour.

In a large bowl, add seven cups of flour, the grounded almonds (if using), salt, remaining sugar, orange rind, mahlepi and mastic. Make a kind of well or hole in the centre. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter and eggs in the hole you’ve made. Work from the centre outwards, bringing the flour into the hole, while stirring the mixture until a dough begins to form.

Dust a worksurface with a little of the remaining flour and knead, adding more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and doesn’t stick to your hands. The procedure takes about 12 minutes.

Furthermore, place the dough an oiled bowl, cover it with a cloth, and set aside in a warm, draft-free place to rise until it doubles in bulk for about two hours. Then, punch down the dough.

Divide it into six small balls and roll each into strips of approximately 12-15 inches long, and about 2 inches in diameter. Lay three strips side by side, pinching them together at one end, and braid the three strips. Pinch together at the other end to hold the loaf intact.

Repeat the procedure to make the second loaf. Place the breads on a parchment-lined baking sheet, covered, and let rise for another two hours, or until they double in bulk. While the braids are rising, preheat the oven to 180°C.

Beat an egg yolk and remaining milk together. Brush over the tsoureki loaves and sprinkle with the slivered almonds. Bake the loaves for about 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown.

That’s all! You are all ready to dig into your Tsoureki!