TURKISH SMIRKISH

Turkish Bread with EVOO and Balsamic

Well don’t say I never listen to you! SO many people have asked me to do a Turkish bread recipe, and here it is and I have to say, tasting aside, it looks fantastic, smells perfect and no doubt will be demolished shortly by the office crew with some great local EVOO and balsamic vinegar. Hmmmnnn, it’s a good job I am ALWAYS hungry! Of course you can’t make this if you are in a hurry to eat…it is a time taker upper-er, but so worth it! Would I lie to you??

NEED:
Starter:
100g bakers flour
100g warm water
2 tsp yeast
Remaining dough:
2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
130g milk
480g bakers flour
200g warm water
Additional flour as needed
A few Nigella seeds (or black sesame seeds)

DO:
Place starter ingredients into Thermomix bowl and mix for 20 seconds on speed 5. Place into glass or ceramic bowl, cover loosely and leave in warm place for 36 hours.
Place starter (which should be bubbly) into 40ºC oven and allow to improve for around an hour before using.
Place yeast, sugar and milk into Thermomix bowl and heat for 2 minutes at 37ºC on speed 1.
Add remaining ingredients and blend for 5 seconds on speed 5.
Knead for 2 minutes on Interval setting. The dough will be very sticky.
Turn out onto Bread Mat and roll dough around on mat until it forms a ball.
Wrap and allow to double (preferably in 40ºC oven).
Roll dough out on Bread Mat into large rectangle and push into shape by hand. Place on large baking tray, (on Bread Mat) mist with a water spray and sprinkle with Nigella seeds before returning to 40ºC oven and allowing to rise for another 10 minutes.
Turn oven up to 200ºC and cook for 15-20 minutes. Mist with water spray a few times throughout the cooking time.
This makes one large loaf or about 6 Turkish Bread rolls.
ENJOY!