Turkish Braided Açma Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 packet fresh yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Flour as needed (approximately 5.5 cups)
For shaping
- 150 grams room temperature butter
For glazing
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons molasses
Preparation
Place milk, water, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl and stir with a whisk until well combined.
Add salt, egg white, and vegetable oil on top and stir again.
Finally, add flour and knead into a dough soft like an earlobe.
Cover and let the dough rise until doubled in size.
Punch down the risen dough, oil your hands with vegetable oil, and divide the dough into 12 pieces.
Place a heaping teaspoon of softened butter on each piece and let rest for 15-20 minutes.
Starting with the first piece, stretch the dough piece by hand until slightly thin, then fold in half like the letter 'D'.
Roll the D-shaped dough from bottom to top into a roll.
Repeat the same process for all dough pieces.
Starting again with the first roll, hold both ends and twist in opposite directions.
Bring the two ends together like a simit or tie into a knot.
Place on a baking sheet and let rise for at least 30 minutes until doubled in size.
Brush the risen açma with egg yolk and optionally sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Bake in a preheated 200°C oven with top and bottom heat until golden brown.
After removing from the oven, cover with a clean cloth while hot and let rest for about 5 minutes, then serve.
