Greek Passover Bread

11 items all together to prepare first and set aside.

Dry goods:

1. White wheat flour - 600 grams

2. White granulated sugar - 100 grams

Wet goods:

3. Pressed fresh yeast - 40 gram

4. Lukewarm water - 50 milliliters

5. 2% milk - 250 milliliters

6. Unsalted butter - 125 grams

7. Golden raisins - 100 grams

8. Zest of one lemon

9. Hard boiled eggs - 5 pieces

10. Vegetable oil - 1 Tablespoon

11. 1 egg yolk

Preparation time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Baking time: 40 minutes

3951 kcal according to my calculations using www.aqua-calc.com (I could be wrong !)

Supplies

Rectangular baking pan

Two large mixing bowls

Brush

Step 1: Making Dough Base/starter

Mix yeast with water and 1 teaspoon of sugar, add 3 Tablespoons of flour and make wet dough base. Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes( last picture shows what it will look like after 15 minutes - you will see nice bubbles forming :)

Step 2: Making the Dough

Mix #1: Mix in a bowl softened butter, sugar, lemon zest and raisins.

Mix #2 Into the bowl with dough base add mix #1, warm milk, stir all to combine, and after that add flour GRADUALLY mixing well after each time and form a dough ball. Lay dough on floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes.

Let dough rest in a bowl covered for about 1 hour in the warm place to double in size.

Be patient !

I had nice temperature of 60 degrees F that day and it took no time for it to double, approximately 45 minutes in my case.

Step 3: Prep Pieces

While you are waiting brush some vegetable oil on the boiled eggs.

Decorate some Easter eggs as well.

Preheat oven 180 C or 350 F, set the baking rack on the middle shelf inside the oven.

Step 4: Making Final Shape

Take dough out on the flat surface and flatten it.

Cut into 4 parts: make three long dough ropes and twist them like a pigtail.

Roll last forth piece of dough and flatten it, put it flat on top of pigtail piece and press gently on top. Insert 5 eggs covered in vegetable oil on top to form holes.

Let rest for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Final Touches

Brush dough with mixture of egg yolk and little bit of milk using a pastry brush.

Bake for 40 minutes, rotate pan after 20 minutes if heat is uneven.

Step 6: Serving

Let cool on the baking pan and after that exchange hard boiled eggs with decorated.

Enjoy!

Happy holidays to all!