Craving a Reuben or looking for a delicious rye bread to impress your friends? This is the recipe for you.

Supplies

Light rye

1 1/2 cups white rye flour

3 cups unbleached bread flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest

1 teaspoon fennel seed

2 tablespoons of molasses

2 tablespoons of shortening or lard

1 1/2 cups of water (at room temp)

Dark rye

1 1/2 cups white rye flour

3 cups unbleached bread flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest

1 teaspoon fennel seed

2 tablespoons of molasses

2 tablespoons of shortening or lard

1 1/2 cups of water (at room temp)

1 1/2 tablespoons of liquid caramel coloring

Egg wash

one egg

1 tablespoon of water

Step 1: Make the Light Spiral

Mix flour, salt, yeast, orange zest, and fennel seeds in a bowl. Add the water, shortening, and molasses. Stir well, until the dough gathers into a ball. Sprinkle some flour on to the counter, and knead till dough is elastic and slightly tacky. Lightly oil a bowl and roll the dough around till it is fully covered. Loosely cover bowl with plastic wrap.

Step 2: Make the Dark Spiral

Mix flour, salt, yeast, orange zest, and fennel seeds in a bowl. Add the water, liquid caramel coloring, shortening, and molasses. Stir well, until the dough gathers into ball. Sprinkle some flour on to the counter, and knead till dough is elastic and slightly tacky. Lightly oil a bowl and roll the dough around till it is fully covered. Cover bowl with plastic wrap.

Step 3: the First Rise

Let rise for 90 min or until the dough has doubled. See pictures above for comparison.

Step 4: Shaping

Cut each of the dough balls into four pieces. Roll out on the counter till they are 5 in x 8 in. Make two stacks of dough alternating the color in each stack. Then shape into a loaf and seal. Oil lightly, loosely cover and let rise for 60 - 90 min, until doubled in size.

Step 5: Egg Wash

Whisk egg and water together and brush on loaf.

Step 6: Bake and Devour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 20 minutes, rotate and bake for another 20 minutes. Remove from loaf pan. Let cool on rack for 1 hour before eating.

This is my first instructables, hope you like it. Please leave a comment.