Let's make some sweet "Tsoureki" - Part 1 of my Greek Easter Recipe Series

Greek Orthodox Easter is a very special and important Holiday for Greeks that's full of tradition especially in the food department! Personally one of my absolute favorite Holidays of all, Easter brings back wonderful and unforgettable childhood memories. The whole family would gather together on Easter Sunday at my uncles chalet up north and we would roast a lamb, there was tsoureki, koulourakia, beautifully painted eggs in vibrant red, green, yellow and blue colors and chocolate (so much chocolate!!). We would have snowball fights, dance, sing, everyone was either cooking or eating! The ultimate Greek Family Reunion!!

Well a great place to start my Greek Easter Food series is with the most important Easter tradition; the sweet bread called "Tsoureki". Traditionally this bread is made on Thursday of the Holy week and is eaten on Sunday and symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. Different places in Greece will shape the bread differently, my mom has always shaped it in a braid so this has become my tradition as well!

Well let's get started!! On a scale of 1 to 10 I would have to put this recipe at about an 8 so don't be scared just be courageous and try it out. Once you've made it a couple of times it'll feel more like a 5 and you'll crave that bread forevermore!

You will need to have the following 2 spices (Masticha and Mahlepi) - you can find these either online or you will have to go to a specialty store (Greek, Armenian or Arabic) in order to find them. These are the most important part as this is what gives this sweet bread it's particularly amazing aroma and flavor.

Ground 1 tsp of Masticha with about 1 tsp of orange zest together. Then add 1 1/2 tsp lemon zest and 1 1/2 tsp orange zest to that mixture.

Boil a tsp of mahlepi with about a cup of water until the mixture has reduced to about a quarter of a cup. Strain out the mahlepi and keep the water. Allow it to cool.

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

4 tsp yeast

4 tsp sugar

(Add the above 3 ingredients together and allow it to rest for 10 minutes until it becomes frothy and bubbly)

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups butter

8 eggs

(In electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar and gradually add the eggs one at a time. Then add the yeast mixture in. Then add in the mahlepi water)

Add the following to the mixture as well:

2 cups warm milk

1/4 cup cognac

Masticha mixture

Once the above are all mixed together, change the mixer attachment to your dough hook and start adding the flour one cup at a time until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the mixing bowl. if you're doing this by hand then add the flour and knead lightly until the mixture no longer sticks to your hands. Once you get to the right consistency cover it with a towel and put it in a dry warm spot and allow it to rise until it has doubled in volume. Take it out and knead it lightly again and allow it to rise a second time until it has doubled in size.

Once it has has had its second rise now is the time to braid it into shapes. This dough will double in size once it has baked so this needs to be taken into account when you are shaping it out. Cut out 3 pieces approximately a ball the size of the palm of your hand. Roll each piece out into a strip and braid the 3 strips together tuck both ends under a little so the ends look prettier. Place them at least 4 inches apart if you are putting more than one sweet bread on your baking sheet to bake - to allow for the breads to rise and not stick together. Then take a simple egg wash and lightly brush the whole top and sprinkle it with some slivered almonds (some will sprinkle with sesame seeds but I personally love the almonds, plus I find it gives it a much more decadent look!).

We are now ready to bake!!!

Oven should be preheated to 350F and breads should be baked for approximately 40 minutes. They should look exactly as the picture does in color!!

Let me know how it goes and if you have any questions at all! Enjoy!