GREEK BREAD

Have you ever been to one of the many Greek Islands and loved the local bread that is served in a basket with your meal? This is a traditional Greek village bread recipe (Horiatiko Psomi) that is an easy bread recipe to make and one that you will love!

When you go to any Tervera you will be served a basket of bread as it's a staple food in the Greek cuisine. There are many different types of breads. The most popular Greek breads are what are called “village” bread, some others are, pita bread, Sesame bread rings to name two. Each one is prepared and shaped in a different way and has each own unique texture and taste.

Village or country bread (Horiatiko psomi) can be found in every Greek bakery. It originates from Greek villages and has a unique flavor and texture of its own. Traditionally it is a denser type of bread that resembles the taste of sourdough bread.

Ingredients

• 1 kg Strong bread flour

• 630ml lukewarm water

• 25g fresh yeast

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 tbsps olive oil

• 1 1/2 tbsp salt

• thin semolina

if you don't have any fresh yeast available you can use instant yeast about 17g will do

INSTRUCTIONS

This bread recipe is best with fresh yeast and overnight proving, this will give a unique extra yeasty taste and texture that resembles a sourdough bread. Use a “strong”, hard flour known as bread flour this is high in protein. This will also help the bread hold it’s shape better and give more texture. Spread some smooth semolina on the working surface when doing the final knead. The semolina gives homemade bread that extra crispy finish.

For this bread It's quite important to use a casserole dish with a lid or better still a cast Iron dutch oven. Preheat the oven 200C fan or 210C. Bake the bread for 45 minutes with the lid on and then another 20 minutes without the lid, to allow the crust to go golden brown. This baking in a dutch oven helps the bread keep the moisture inside. It also helps to form that amazing crust resembling the traditional baking you get if done in a wood baking oven.