Hungarian Poppy Seed Bars Recipes

HUNGARIAN POPPY SEED FILLING

Steps:

• Grind the poppy seeds in a mill or coffee grinder.
• Combine the milk, margarine, and sugar in a saucepan. Cook on low heat, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. Gradually pour about half of the hot milk into the beaten eggs, whisking constantly. Return the egg and milk mixture to the saucepan.
• Continue to cook and stir until the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of a metal spoon. (Run your finger down the coated spoon: it should draw a clear line.) Add the poppy seeds and stir well to blend.
• Remove from heat; cool before using. Store unused filling in the refrigerator for up to five days.

HUNGARIAN BEIGLI

Steps:

• Combine the 5 tablespoons sugar, butter, egg yolks, and sour cream in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the dough blade and process well. Add the flour and yeast and process until the dough comes together. If the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour; if it's too dry, add milk a tablespoon at a time. The dough should be moist and easy to work with.
• Shape the dough into a ball, cover with a damp towel, and set aside. To make the filling, heat the milk and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture has a syrupy consistency. Add the chopped walnuts and stir to combine. Remove the saucepan from the heat; stir in the lemon zest and raisins, and let filling cool.
• Divide the dough into three pieces. Roll one piece of dough out on a lightly floured surface to form a long rectangle about a 1/4-inch thick; keep the remaining dough covered. Spread 1/3 of the walnut filling on the dough, leaving about an inch of dough at each edge. Roll the dough up to form a log, and press to seal. Place the dough, seam-side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush the loaves with egg wash and let rest for 1 hour in a warm place. After the dough has risen, brush it again with egg wash and put the baking tray in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (this will give the dough a shiny finish).
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake the loaves until they're a deep golden brown, about 35 to 45 minutes.

HUNGARIAN POPPY SEED ROLL (BEIGLI)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the yeast, water and sugar. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt and cold butter with a pastry cutter or by hand.
• Make a well in the center and add the egg yolks (save the whites!), sour cream, and yeast mixer. You will know that you yeast has "bloomed" properly if it has formed a frothy dome on top. This has 100% to due with the water temperature.
• Mix this together until it forms a dough ball.
• Remove dough from bowl and clean bowl. Grease clean bowl and place dough back inches Cover with a tea towel and put in a warm spot while making filling. I just toss it in the microwave or the oven and it rises just fine.
• To make the filling:.
• Place all the filling ingredients in a heavy bottom saucepan and heat to a boil over medium-low heat. Stir constantly. This takes about 20 minutes, but don't leave it because it will scorch.
• Pore into a clean bowl and put in the refrigerator until completely cool. I cheat by put it in the freezer and stirring it every 15 or so minutes.
• When the filling has cooled, divide risen dough into four balls.
• Roll them out on a lightly floured surface into 12"-15" squares. You can set them aside stacked on each other while you are filling them to save room.
• Spread them with a even layer of poppy seed filling about 1/2" from the edge. Roll them loosely into logs and place on cookie sheets.
• Let them sit for 20 minutes to rise a little.
• Preheat oven to 425F.
• Rolls with beaten egg white.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• Cool on wire racks and slice into 1/2" slices.
• Enjoy!