Ingredients for - Yia Yia's Tsoureki (Greek Easter Bread)
How to cook deliciously - Yia Yia's Tsoureki (Greek Easter Bread)
1 . Stage
Pour yeast into a small bowl; add warm water and 1/4 cup of flour. Stir, cover with two damp kitchen towels, and leave in a warm place until bubbly, about 2 1/2 hours.
2 . Stage
Combine butter, shortening, and mastic in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
3 . Stage
Stir milk and sugar together in another saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm. Remove from heat.
4 . Stage
Pour 2 cups flour into the butter mixture and stir well. Add salt, then stir in the yeast mixture. Add 2 more cups of flour and stir well. Stir in 3 beaten eggs. Slowly add the milk mixture and 1 cup of flour and stir well. Add the room-temperature water and the last cup of flour and stir until the dough is not sticky.
5 . Stage
Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 20 minutes with lightly floured hands. Form dough into a ball. Cover with damp towels and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
6 . Stage
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two baking sheets.
7 . Stage
Divide dough into two pieces and separate each piece into three strands. Braid each of the 3 strands together to form 2 braided loaves. Place on the baking sheets. Nestle the red-dyed eggs between the strands. Brush the dough with the remaining beaten egg. Sprinkle the tops with almonds and sesame seeds.
8 . Stage
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes.