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ÇÖREK RECIPE

Traditional Cypriot Bread Recipe

Çörek Bread Recipe

We learned this Çörek bread recipe from a 93-year-old great grandmother in Nicosia, Cyprus. Her bread recipe is savory and fluffy. It is the perfect bread to dip into a hot bowl of soup. 

Serves: 5-7 people

Preperation Time: 40 min

Recipe:

  • Activate the yeast with a tspof sugar and 1/2 cup of warm water.

  • While the yeast is activating, wash 2 cups of sesame seeds and strain the water. Do not dry the sesame seeds for they will not stick to the dough.

  • In a separate bowl add the wet sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp of black nigella seeds, and 1 Tbsp of cumin seeds. Mix around so that they are evenly distributed.

  • Once the yeast has frothed on the surface of the water (approx. 10 min.), add the flour, sugar, spices, and salt to the large mixing bowl and mix.

  • Add the warm water, 1/2 cup at a time, kneading the dough with your hands until the dough is no longer sticky. 

  • Take a grapefruit size piece of dough and using your hands on a flat working surface, roll out the dough into a thin baguette approx. 4 cm in diameter. Cut the baguette diagonally into finger long pieces. Press four pieces of the diagonally cut dough together and then place the pieces ontop of the seed mix, patting them down gently so that they become encrusted with the seeds. Repeat with the rest of the dough. 

  • Place the dough onto an oiled cookie sheet and cover with a cloth, before placing the cookie sheet in a warm place to rise for 45 min. Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C) and bake for approx. 25 minutes or until golden brown. 

  • Enjoy Fatimah's Çörek, made with love!!

INGREDIENTS

Bread:

  • 3 cups flour

  • 1 cup warm water

  • 1 tsp active dry yeast

  • 1 Tbsp cumin

  • 1 Tbsp cardamom 

  • 1 Tbsp powdered clove

  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon

  • 1 Tbsp sea salt

  • 1 tsp sugar + 1 tsp sugar (for yeast)

Seeds for crust:

  • 2 cups of sesame seeds

  • 1 Tbsp cumin seeds

  • 1 Tbsp nigella seeds

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

  • mixing bowl

  • deep plate for seeds

  • cookie sheet

RECIPE PHOTOS

Fatimah's Çörek Recipe

Captured by The Recipe Hunters: Leila Elamine & Anthony Morano

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