Moldovan Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the warm water, sugar, the yeast, and a cup of flour. Mix it with a spoon until smooth. Let stand for about 15 minutes - you should start to see the yeast begin to work.
• Mix in the oil and the salt. Start adding the rest of the flour, mixing until it is incorporated and the dough comes together.
• Turn out onto a floured surface (I usually use an oiled surface for kneading) and knead until you have a smooth dough, about 10 minutes.
• Place in a greased bowl, cover and let stand in a warm place until the dough is doubled.
• Turn out of bowl onto floured surface. Deflate the dough by kneading gently and let rest 15 minutes.
• Divide dough into six pieces and shape each piece into a rope. Braid three pieces into a loaf; repeat with remaining pieces.
• Place each braid into a greased loaf pan, cover and let rise until nearly doubled.
• Preheat oven to 400 deg F (200 deg C)
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Turn out of pans and brush with a little oil.

Steps:

• Mix the kefir or whey, the ¼ tablespoon of sunflower oil, vinegar, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Add the feta, spring onions and dill and mix in well with a fork.
• Sift the flour with the baking soda, then sift again into the kefir or whey mixture and mix in.
• The dough should be soft and pillowy. If it's still a bit sticky, heavily flour your work surface and start kneading the dough and incorporating more flour. The dough will remain very slightly sticky from all the cheese.
• Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Flour your work surface really well and roll each one out into a 15 cm (6 inch) diameter circle.
• Heat the ¼ cup sunflower oil in a large frying pan and fry the breads, one at a time, for 3 minutes on each side, lowering the heat if you see them catching. Alternatively, brush the breads with oil or butter and cook them under your broiler.