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Traditional Paska Bread

Ingredients
  

  • 1 orange
  • 1 lemon
  • 125 ml water
  • 2 tbsp. active dry yeast
  • 57 g butter
  • 156 ml milk
  • 1 egg
  • 90 g sugar + 1 tsp.
  • 600-690 g flour
  • 0.5 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Warm the water to 46°C (115°F) and whisk in the sugar and yeast. Allow to prove while preparing the next items.
  • Peel the lemon and orange, and remove any pith from the peel and fruit. Cut into quarters, and place all in the blender.
  • Warm milk and butter together, until the butter melts. Add to the blender and blend on high for 3 minutes.
  • Add sugar, salt, and egg and blend for another 2 minutes. Measure the mixture – it should be 625ml. If not, add more citrus juice to compensate.
  • Pour the mixture into a large bowl, and add the yeast mixture to it.
  • Stir in the flour, about 100g at a time, until the dough becomes a shaggy mass. Turn it out on to the table, and continue adding flour as you knead the dough for 8-10 minutes. It should be smooth and soft.
  • Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to prove 1-1.5 hours, until doubled.
  • Punch down the dough, and let it rest 10 minutes.
  • While dough is resting, prepare your tins by greasing them or lining them with parchment paper.
  • Shape your dough, and place in the tins. Cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1-1.5 hours.
  • When the dough is almost done proving, preheat the oven to 176°C (350°F).
  • Bake the loaves in the preheated oven for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of your tin.
  • Remove from the pan, and allow to cool.