Sesame Braids
By Anand Lila devi dasi
•Active dry yeast.....................¼ oz or 7 gm
•Warm water...........................¼ C
•Warm milk .............................1 C
•Butter, softened ......................3 Tbsp
•Sugar .....................................1 Tbsp
•Salt ........................................1 ½ Tsp
•Yogurt ....................................3 Tbsp
•All purpose flour ....................4 C
Topping:
•Cornstarch................ 1 ½ Tsp
•Cold water ............... 2 Tbsp
•Sesame seeds .......... 1 Tbsp
Preparation
1) In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter,
sugar, salt, yogurt and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough
remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2) Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Transfer dough
to a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size,
about 1 hour.
3) Punch down the dough and divide into three equal parts. Shape each part
into a 12-inch rope. Place the three ropes on a greased baking sheet and
braid; press each end to seal and tuck under. Cover and let rise until doubled,
about 1 hour.
4) Combine the cornstarch and cold water until smooth in consistency; brush
over braids. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 425 F/200 C for 30 minutes
or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool. Cut in 1-inch thick
slices. They can be grilled, toasted or even just simply served with butter. For a
full meal, accompany them with a hearty soup and a crisp salad.
Yield
One Loaf
