Armenian Bread Recipes

CHOEREG - ARMENIAN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• Add the warm water and 2 teaspoons of sugar to a small bowl and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Scatter the yeast over the water and leave for about 10 minutes, until the yeast is frothy.
• Add the butter, margarine, and milk to a pan over a medium heat and heat until melted. Do not let it boil.
• Add 1 cup of sugar and stir in until dissolved. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Crack 3 of the eggs into a large bowl, and lightly whisk. Add the cooled milk mixture a little at a time, beating constantly.
• Pour in the yeast mixture and stir until just combined.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, mahleb, and salt
• Make a dip in the center of the flour and pour in the egg mixture. Incorporate the flour a little at a time, stirring until all the flour is incorporated and you have a sticky dough.
• Dust a work surface with flour. Knead the dough, incorporating the flour until you have a less sticky dough, then continue to knead for a further 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil a bowl. Place the dough inside, cover, and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• When the dough has risen, knock it a few times to punch the air out, then cover and leave to rise until doubled in size again, about 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal balls, then divide each of those balls again into 3. Roll each portion into a rope about 12 inches long.
• Take 3 strands at a time and braid them together, pinching the ends and tucking them under to seal, so that you have 4 braids.
• Lay the loaves onto lined baking trays, with about 4 inches between each braid. Leave to rise once more until your finger leaves an indentation when you lightly press the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Brush the braids with the beaten egg, before sprinkling the sesame seeds over the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.

CHOEREG (ARMENIAN EASTER BREAD)

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, butter and margarine. Heat until butter and margarine are melted, but do not let it boil. Stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved, then set aside to cool to lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons of sugar in warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface, and let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Crack the eggs into a large bowl, and stir a little to break up the yolks. Slowly pour in the heated milk mixture while whisking constantly, so as to temper the eggs and not cook them. Add the yeast mixture, and stir just until blended.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, mahleb, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the wet mixture. Stir until it forms a sticky dough. Pour onto a floured surface, and knead in additional flour as needed to make a more substantial dough. Knead for about 10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, and set in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
• When the dough has doubled, punch down again, and let rise until doubled. It will only take about half as long this time.
• Separate the dough into 5 even portions, then separate each of those into thirds. Roll each of those into ropes about 12 inches long. Braid sets of three ropes together, pinching the ends to seal, and tucking them under for a better presentation. Place the loaves onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Loaves should be spaced 4 inches apart. Set in a warm place to rise until your finger leaves an impression behind when you poke the loaf gently.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush the loaves with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until nicely golden brown all over.

LAVASH BREAD (YEASTLESS ARMENIAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• Whisk flour and salt together and add to a standing mixer.
• Using a dough hook, slowly drizzle warm water over the flour mixture while the machine is running.
• Mix until the dough comes together, scraping the sides of the bowl when necessary. If needed, add a few additional tablespoons of warm water to wet the dry flour on the bottom of the bowl.
• Once the dough comes together, cover it with saran wrap and place in a warm location for an hour.
• After one hour, stretch the dough from the outside edges towards the center. Do this all the way around the dough ball then flip the dough over and form into a smooth ball.
• Cover the bowl back up and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Repeat this process one additional time.

LAVASH (ARMENIAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• Place a large pizza stone in the center rack of an oven and preheat to 500˚F.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Stir in the water and knead to form a smooth and soft dough. If too crumbly, add a little more water. If too sticky, add a little more flour. Cover the bowl with plastic or a towel and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
• Cut the rested dough into 4 equal pieces. Place one piece on a work surface and cover the others. Roll the dough into a long oval or rectangle as thin as possible.
• Carefully transfer to the preheated stone and cook until puffed with golden spots, about 2-3 minutes. Remove to a plate and lightly spray or sprinkle with water. Cover with a damp cloth and repeat with remaining pieces of dough, spraying them with water and stacking with the previously cooked lavash.
• After cooling, store in an airtight bag at room temperature or freeze for up to one month.

LAVASH

Steps:

• Place the flour in a large mixing bowl. Sift the salt, baking powder,and sugar into the flour. Stir well.
• Add the melted butter and MOST of the water.
• Mix well until a dough forms. If the dough seems too dry, add some of the remaining water and continue to mix.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
• Divide the dough into 6 balls.
• Roll one ball of dough at a time into a rectangle shape that will fit on a 16"x12" baking sheet.
• Fold the rectangle-shaped dough into thirds, then in thirds again, creating a little bundle.
• Re-roll each bundle into a large rectangle again. (This process helps to create flaky layers.) Place rolled dough on an ungreased 16"x12" baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Brush the surface of the dough with egg wash.
• Bake on the lower oven rack for about 15 minutes, or until bottom starts to brown.
• Move the tray to the upper oven rack for about another 5 to 10, or until the top becomes a golden brown.
• Remove from oven. Cool completely. Carefully cut each 'loaf' into 12 or 16 pieces.
• Continue this process until all balls of dough have been shaped and baked. NOTE: Depending on how thick or thin the dough is rolled out, will determine whether the lavash will be chewy or -crispy. Either way, it's great!
• Store in an airtight container.
• Serve lavash with cheese, fruit, and your favorite coffee or tea!

ARMENIAN FLATBREAD (LAVASH BREAD RECIPE)

Steps:

• Using a rubber spatula, mix together the flour, water, and yeast in a bowl until it forms a thick paste. Scrape the paste into a small, lightly oiled container, cover, and let it sit out for 1½ to 2 hours (See Note 1). Old dough should have doubled in volume.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the old dough, water, oil, and salt. Squish the old dough with your hands to break it up in the water.
• Add 1 cup of the flour and using the paddle attachment, mix on low speed until the dough looks like pancake batter. Next add the remaining flour and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough sit for 20 minutes (See Note 2).
• Remove towel, attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and mix the dough on medium speed until the dough releases from the sides of the bowl without sticking and feels smooth to the touch, about 4 minutes.
• Lightly grease an 8 cup bowl and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 3 hours or until doubled in volume (See Note 3).
• Dust a clean surface lightly with flour and place the dough on top. Cut the dough into 8 pieces about 3.5 ounces each.
• Cup the palm of your hand over one portion at a time and move your hand in a circle. The friction from the counter will help form the dough into a ball.
• Lightly oil a rimmed tray and place the dough on the tray, don't let dough balls touch. Cover with plastic wrap lightly coated with cooking spray or oil. Let rest for 1 hour (See Note 4).
• Dust a clean surface lightly with flour. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll each ball of dough into a thin rectangle about 8x12 inches. Work in batches and keep dough covered in between. OPTIONAL: once dough is rolled out, sprinkle sesame seeds on one side, and with rolling pin, press seeds into dough. These doesn't have to look perfect.
• Place a large cast-iron pan (or griddle over two burners) over medium-high heat for a few minutes or until a sprinkle of water instantly evaporates.
• Place the dough in the pan or over the griddle. Cook for 1 minute or until puffed slightly and blistered. Turn over using tongs to cook the other side, no more than 30 seconds. For extra browning, flip it over for 30 more seconds.
• Transfer the lavash to a baking sheet and cover with a dry kitchen towel while you cook the rest of the dough.
• Eat the lavash soon after making it or store it in plastic bags to keep the bread pliable. It's okay if it dries out and turns brittle; rehydrate it by misting the lavash with water and covering it with a towel to let it soften. Soon after, it should be pliable enough to roll up without cracking. If it's still cracking, mist with more water.

ARMENIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Scald the milk and stir in the butter and lard.
• Allow to cool to about 100°F, then crumble in the yeast and add the sugar and a few spoonfuls of warm water and leave in a warm place till frothy.
• Mix together the flour, sesame seeds, sunflower kernels and salt.
• Stir the yeast and milk mixture into the flour together with 2¾ cups of lukewarm water.
• Beat well and knead till smooth and silky.
• Leave to rise for about 45 minutes.
• Knead again and form into 3 large flat loaves.
• Lay the loaves on greased baking sheets and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
• Mix together the eggs, cheese, cumin, walnuts, and pepper and spread this thick paste over the loaves.
• Bake at 425° for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350° and bake for 30 minutes more or till the loaves are firm and golden and sound hollow when tapped.
• Cool on wire rack.

LAVASH ARMENIAN THIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place the tepid water in your electric mixing bowl and add the olive oil, sugar, and yeast. Using the batter blade let the electric mixer blend these very well.
• It will take about 5 minutes on low speed.
• Stir in the salt. Gradually add 2 cups of the flour and beat on low speed until a thick and smooth batter forms.
• Change the blade to a bread dough hook and knead in the additional 2 cups of flour.
• If you do not have a heavy mixer such as a KitchenAid, incorporate the flour with a wooden spoon and finish the kneading by hand.
• Kneading should take about 10 minutes in the machine, 20 minutes by hand.
• Place the dough on a plastic countertop and cover with a large stainless-steel bowl.
• Allow the dough to rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch the dough down and divide into 8 pieces.
• Let stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• Roll out each piece of dough into a 12-inch-diameter circle. Working with 2 pieces of dough at a time, arrange breads on ungreased baking sheets.
• Brush with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds over tops.
• Pierce with a fork many times, all over.
• Bake on the lowest racks in the oven, at 375F, for 8-10 minutes, or until light brown.
• Rotate the pans in the oven from top to bottom, to insure even browning.
• Serve dry or wet. (To wet, hold the cracker under running water until lightly moistened all over, and then wrap in a moist towel for 10-15 minutes.) If the cracker is too dry to roll, it will crack.
• Sprinkle with a little more water and let stand a few minutes.
• If it is too wet, cover with a dry towel and let it stand.