Kouloura Cypriot Bread Ring Recipes

Steps:

• Sift the flour into a bowl and warm in a slow oven.
• Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup warm water, add the remaining water, milk, salt and sugar.
• Remove about 1 cup flour from the bowl and reserve.
• Pour yeast mixture into centre and stir in enough flour to thicken the liquid.
• Cover and leave in a warm place until frothy.
• Stir in the rest of the flour in the bowl, adding oil gradually, then beating for about 10 minutes by hand.
• Knead in the reserved flour by hand either in the bowl or on a board.
• Just add enough to stop the dough sticking and knead until smooth and sainy- about 10 minutes.
• shape into a ball.
• Oil the bowl, add dough smooth side down and turn over so that the top is oiled.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot until doubled in size.
• Punch down and turn onto a lightly floured board.
• flatten out into a circle and then roll up firmly.
• roll back and forth with palms of hands so that it form a thich rope 50 cm long, tapering in at each end.
• Lift onto a greased baking sheet and form into a ring, overlap ends and tuck under loaf.
• cover with a cloth and leave to rise in a warm place.
• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Brush bread with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake in a moderately hot oven for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked.
• Cool on a rack.

Steps:

• Mix all ingrdients EXCEPT sesame seeds to form a dough and knead by hand for approximately 10 minutes.
• You might need to add a little more flour, the dough should be soft but not sticky.
• Cover and let dough rise for about 30-50 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
• Meanwhile preheat oven (440°F, 225°C) and grease baking tray or cover it with baking paper. Put a wide ovenproof dish filled with hot water on the bottom of the oven to have steam, which will make for a better result.
• Knead dough a second time and divide into 8 portions.
• Form each part into 13-14 inch long roll (about 3/4-1 inch thick). Shape into rings and press ends together.
• Put some warm water into a large bowl. Put sesame seeds on a plate.
• Carefully dip rings into warm water and then into sesame seeds to cover them on both sides.
• Put rings on baking tray and let rise for another 10 minutes.
• Bake for about 25-35 minutes.
• Koulóuria are done, when they are golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.