Montana Russian Black Bread Recipes

RUSSIAN BLACK BREAD

Steps:

• Combine flours. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix 2 1/3 cups flour mixture, sugar, salt, cereal, caraway seed, coffee powder, onion powder, fennel seed and undissolved yeast.
• In a sauce pan combine 2 1/2 cups water, vinegar, molasses, chocolate and butter.
• Heat liquid mixture over low heat until liquids are very warm (120°-130°F), butter and chocolate do not have to be melted.
• Gradually add heated liquid mixture to dry ingredients and beat (with electric mixer) for 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 cup flour mixture. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough additional flour mixture to make a soft dough. Turn dough on to a lightly floured board. Cover dough and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead dough until smooth and elastic (about 10-15 minutes), dough may be sticky. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning dough to grease the top. Cover bowl and place in a warm, draft free place to rise until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
• Punch dough down; turn out onto a lightly floured board. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a ball, about 5 inches in diameter. Place each ball into the center of a greased 8-inch round cake pan. Cover; let rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour). Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until done.
• Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and cold water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture stats to boil; continue cooking mixture for 1 minute stirring constantly.
• As soon as bread is baked, brush cornstarch mixture over top of loaves. Return bread to oven and bake 2-3 minutes longer, or until glaze is set. Remove loaves from pans and cool on wire racks.
• **I have made this recipe both"as is" and also omitting the fennel seeds and onion powder. Omitting the fennel seed and onion powder changes the flavor a bit, but it is still a very good bread.

MONTANA RUSSIAN BLACK BREAD

Steps:

• Place whole wheat bread flour, rye flour, cocoa powder, bread flour, wheat germ, caraway seeds, yeast, beer, coffee, vinegar, olive oil, honey, molasses, sea salt, and onion powder in a bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Set bread machine for kneading cycle.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from bread machine and shape into a rustic loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Make slits on top of loaf in crisscross formation. Let dough rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 395 degrees F (202 degrees C).
• Whisk egg white and warm water together in a small bowl. Brush egg white mixture over top of loaf.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread is cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool bread on a wire rack for 1 hour before serving.

MONTANA RUSSIAN BLACK BREAD

Steps:

• Place whole wheat bread flour, rye flour, cocoa powder, bread flour, wheat germ, caraway seeds, yeast, beer, coffee, vinegar, olive oil, honey, molasses, sea salt, and onion powder in a bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Set bread machine for kneading cycle.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from bread machine and shape into a rustic loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Make slits on top of loaf in crisscross formation. Let dough rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 395 degrees F (202 degrees C).
• Whisk egg white and warm water together in a small bowl. Brush egg white mixture over top of loaf.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread is cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool bread on a wire rack for 1 hour before serving.