Greek Easter Bread a.k.a Tsourekia

Food is unification of the family, that’s what my mom taught me. Easter at my house was an blend of beautiful aromas and family unification ! My mom began cooking in the middle of the week and finished at the end of the week just  a few hours before going to church. Nostalgic of her cooking and her presence,  I try to create my own moments with my own family using her recipes.   This recipe takes me back to a time of fun, a worry free life and a time where things were quit different. My mom’s holiday cooking would put a smile on all our faces. She was a very mommy type. She made everything seem effortless, whether she was tired or not she was had a smile when she cooked.   In return I want to give my children these moments that I still long for.No matter how old you are or how good you cook, mom’s cooking is always better. This Greek Easter bread resembles the Jewish Challah. It goes great with coffee, you can spread on it butter, honey, jam or just eat it plain,that’s how I like it.This is how coffee table looks when I wake up Easter Sunday !

My coffee table on Easter Sunday !

The ingredients for the Easter Bread ( Tsourekia )

5 pounds of all purpose flour ( always buy a little extra)

10 whole eggs

3 cups sugar

1 cup mazola corn oil ( any corn oil will do)

1 stick sweet butter

5 yeast envelopes ( for the leaven)

3 glasses of milk

Red dyed eggs ( if you want to )

1/2 teaspoon Mahlepi ( a Greek unusual spice with an Arabic name) *

1/2 teaspoon of Mastiha ( Gum resin from the Mastic tree) *

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder ( I prefer vanilla powder, it’s stronger)

 

Leaven, this must be made overnight.

Heat one glass of milk till warm, add in a big pot then add your 5 envelopes of yeast. Dissolve yeast very well then slowly add your flour, add just enough to make it tight, set aside till next day.

The next day it should have tiny air bubbles.

This is how it should look.

The next day in a different pot:

Mix 8 eggs and 2 glasses of warm milk and then slowly all other ingredients, add your butter last.  Beat for at least 15 minutes.  Make sure your mahlepi and Mastiha are cracked I usually place it in a towel and crack them with a hammer.

* Mahlepi – can be found in Middle Eastern shops

I crack the mahlepi and mastiha in the package

Once you are done you add your leaven to your mix.

Your mix before adding your leaven

Adding the leaven into bread mixture.

Once you add the leaven, slowly add the flour, when you add enough flour and the dough starts forming you begin kneading, rub your hands with corn oil this makes the kneading  a lot easier. If you do not use corn oil it will become a difficult task.  You must knead it for about 15 minutes, if you have a bread machine go ahead and use it. I like doing it the traditional way. I make the dough in the as soon as I wake up in the morning. When you are done kneading leave it in the pot and allow it to rise usually about 2 -3 hours. Every time it overlapped in the pot I just kneaded it over and over. Makes the bread fluffier.

The dough is ready and pliable ! See the bunny ears, lol 😉

 

Start your creations !

It’s traditional to make the Tsourekia in shapes of braids. We do this to keep all bad spirits away.

Creating the braid.

You are almost done.

Final steps and you’re done !

 

Your Tsourekia are done !!

 

If you have followed the recipe, you should have about 7 tsourekia. When they are all ready brush them with an egg for color, then you cover them  with aluminum foil and towels and you let them rise for about 2 -3 hours before baking. If they have not risen, they are not ready and yo will get a hard tsoureki. Preheat your oven for at least an hour. Bake them for 25 mins. at 248 or less. To check if they are ready place a skewer in the middle if it comes out clean they are ready!! Let them cool and eat !!

Love them !!

With her own little hands !

 

I hope you all have enjoyed this special recipe !