Christopsomo, loaf. The Greek word tsoureki is borrowed from Turkish çörek. Some dictionaries claim that this is derived from the Old Turkish root çevir-'turn'; others say it is Persian or Armenian. There are different variations of the Greek tsoureki holiday breads including a round Christmas loaf with a cross decoration called Christopsomo, a braided easter bread with whole dyed.
The bread is often decorated with pieces of dough formed into representations of the family's life (boats, animals, etc.). Christopsomo, which translates as "Christ's Bread"- pron. Christopsomo also named kouloúra tou Christoú (round bread of Christ), is usually a round loaf often made with the same ingredients as Easter bread. You can have Christopsomo, loaf using 10 ingredients and 14 steps. Here is how you cook that.
Ingredients of Christopsomo, loaf
- You need 1 kg of cake flour.
- You need 1/2 kg of bread flour.
- You need 30 g of fresh yeast.
- You need 1 tbsp of sugar.
- Prepare 1 tsp of salt.
- You need 1/2 cup of brown sesame seeds.
- You need 1/4 cup of black sesame seeds.
- You need 10 pieces of star anise.
- You need 1/4 cup of olive oil.
- Prepare of lukewarm water, as much as it takes.
Raisins, nuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are just a few of the taste treats found in this traditional sweet loaf. Christopsomo recipe (Greek Christmas bread) – Which spices and nuts to use. Greek Christmas bread owes its rich and distinctive flavour to the two aromatic spices used in this traditional Christopsomo recipe, mahleb and anise. Once put in the oven, the aromas of the spices permeates the house and brings back Christmas memories.
Christopsomo, loaf instructions
- Dissolve the sugar with the yeast in a cup of lukewarm water (make sure that the water is not very hot because the dough will not rise) and set it aside for ten minutes..
- Place the flour, salt and oil in a strong kitchen mixer with a hook and mix slightly..
- Add the water with the yeast and knead at medium speed adding lukewarm water little by little (about 3 cups) until you have a soft dough that is not very sticky..
- Starting from the time the dough forms, knead for 5 minutes and then add the 1/2 cup of the brown sesame seeds..
- If the dough is too soft and sticks to your hands add a little of the bread flour and make it into a ball pulling it together by hand..
- Save a piece of about the size of an orange, to decorate it..
- Place the dough in an oiled baking tray and press it with your hand so that it spreads evenly in it..
- Roll out the piece of dough that you have set aside and using cookie cutters, cut whatever pattern you like or make a string with it and form a cross..
- Stick the patterns onto the dough by brushing all the surface of the bread with water..
- When you finish decorating, brush the whole top of the bread with water and sprinkle with the sesame seeds, press the star anise on it as well and place a walnut in the center. Moreover, use a pair of scissors to make cuts to the edges of the loaf..
- Using a toothpick, poke numerous holes. Lightly cover the whole baking tray with a towel and place it in a warm place (not the oven) under a blanket or a duvet, in order for the dough to rise and double its size for exactly one hour..
- Bake at 200°C in a preheated oven using the radiant elements for 1 hour and 10 minutes exactly..
- At 15-20 minutes the crust should be a light beize colour, so cover with aluminum foil until you finish baking..
- When it is done, remove immediately from the baking tray and let it cool on a cooling rack..
Christopsomo (Greek Christmas bread, the so called "bread of Christ") the decorative bread for the Christmas dinner, with it's crust flavored with star anise. Now prepare the dough for the decoration of Christopsomo, add the water, olive oil, flour and salt in the mixer's bowl. Mix using the dough hook, until the dough is smooth. For the Christopsomo, deflate the dough lightly with your fingers and shape into a round loaf. The walnut and a piece of Christopsomo are placed in the family's icon corner for a year of blessings, replacing last year's..
