Nistisimo tsoureki (brioche lenten)

Posted on Mar 15, 2010 in Desserts | 5 comments

INGREDIENTS

• 85gr liquid yeast
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• little salt
• 2 cups yellow squash, cooked and well drained
• 1.4 cups sugar
• 0.5 cups orange juice
• 0.5 cups corn oil
• zest of 1 orange
• 0.5 tbsp cooking fat
• Mahlepi 1 sachet (powder)
• Kakoulis 1 sachet (powder)
• 1 kgr flour
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 2-3 tbsp of corn oil to spread with
• sesame seeds for sprinkling

METHOD

1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and a little salt and add the 2 tablespoons flour and stir well to make porridge.
2. Cover and leave until doubled in volume.
3. Beat the pumpkin in the blender, the sugar, orange juice, corn oil, orange zest and the cooking fat to come together well to melt sugar.
4. In a pan sift the flour and keep as little in the bowl, sieved and the mahlepi and Kakoulis and flour and mix all together.
5. We prepare a hollow in the middle and add the bloated yeast and the mixture in the blender.
6. Mix gently by hand until the mixture is not sticking in hands.(You may need a little more flour.)
7. In a bowl put 2-3 tablespoons of the corn oil and put in the mixture and lubricate well.
8. Cover the bowl with a towel and leave to rise and double in volume.
9. When risen, cut strips and knit braids or small round cakes and put them in a release paper in the pan and let them inflate again.
10. With a brush and a little water soak them and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
11. Bake in preheated oven with resistance, to 180ºC-200ºC for 45 minutes.