Best Armenian Bread Recipes

LAVASH ARMENIAN THIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place the tepid water in your electric mixing bowl and add the olive oil, sugar, and yeast. Using the batter blade let the electric mixer blend these very well.
• It will take about 5 minutes on low speed.
• Stir in the salt. Gradually add 2 cups of the flour and beat on low speed until a thick and smooth batter forms.
• Change the blade to a bread dough hook and knead in the additional 2 cups of flour.
• If you do not have a heavy mixer such as a KitchenAid, incorporate the flour with a wooden spoon and finish the kneading by hand.
• Kneading should take about 10 minutes in the machine, 20 minutes by hand.
• Place the dough on a plastic countertop and cover with a large stainless-steel bowl.
• Allow the dough to rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch the dough down and divide into 8 pieces.
• Let stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• Roll out each piece of dough into a 12-inch-diameter circle. Working with 2 pieces of dough at a time, arrange breads on ungreased baking sheets.
• Brush with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds over tops.
• Pierce with a fork many times, all over.
• Bake on the lowest racks in the oven, at 375F, for 8-10 minutes, or until light brown.
• Rotate the pans in the oven from top to bottom, to insure even browning.
• Serve dry or wet. (To wet, hold the cracker under running water until lightly moistened all over, and then wrap in a moist towel for 10-15 minutes.) If the cracker is too dry to roll, it will crack.
• Sprinkle with a little more water and let stand a few minutes.
• If it is too wet, cover with a dry towel and let it stand.

ARMENIAN EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm milk in Kitchen Aide.
• Add sugar and melted butter.
• Beat eggs and add, along with salt, ground mahleb and nigella.
• Add flour gradually, one cup at a time until dough comes away from sides of bowl.
• Knead 10 minutes until shiny and no longer sticky.
• Place dough in oiled bowl, turn to coat outside with oil and cover. Put in a warm place to rise until doubled.
• Divide into two or three balls.
• Divide each ball into three and roll out with your hands to three long ropes.
• Pinch all three ends together and braid loosely. Pinch ends and tuck under.
• Cover and allow to rise again until doubled.
• Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or chopped blanced almonds.
• Bake for 20 minutes in preheated 375 degree oven.

ARMENIAN CRACKER BREAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast into warm water in large bowl and stir until dissolved.
• Add salt.
• Combine all-purpose and whole wheat flours and add enough to yeast mixture to make stiff dough.
• Turn out on floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Shape into ball.
• Place in greased bowl and turn to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.
• Punch down and let rise again until doubled, about 30 minutes. Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll each out on lightly floured surface to very thin circle about 9 inches in diameter.
• Place, one at a time, on baking sheet and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake at 400F 5 to 6 minutes, or until bread appears dry, lightly browned and blistered.
• Run palest side under hot broiler until lightly browned. Cool and.
• store in dry place.

LAHVOSH/LAVOSH ARMENIAN CRACKER BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl dissolve yeast in the warm water and then add sugar.
• Next add the flour, the butter and salt. Knead the dough until it is very smooth. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 4 hours. Divide the dough into balls the size of two hands cupped together.
• On a floured board, roll out the balls until they are the size of a 14" pizza pan. Place the dough in the pan and poke the dough in several places with a fork.
• Sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds, pressing them in so that they don't fall off and bake on the bottom shelf of a 400 degree oven for 5 - 6.minutes. After the 5-6 minutes are up move the pan up to the middle shelf of the oven until lightly browned. Enjoy!

ARMENIAN SWEET EASTER BREAD

Steps:

• 1. 1- In a small bowl sprinkle the yeast over warm water, stir in 1 teaspoon sugar and set aside for 15. min.
• 2. 2- Meanwhile in a separate mixing bowl beat the butter with the sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and beat well . Blend in milk, yeast, caraway seeds, mastic(if using) Mahlab, salt stirring well.
• 3. 3- Sift the flour with baking powder, make a well in the center and pour beaten egg mixture . Stir to mix, then knead with your hands about 10-15 min. until is smooth. Place in a big grease bowel, turn once . then cover and place in a warm area ( not in the oven) for about 5-6 hrs. until its doubled in bulk. Punch the dough down and divide 4 balls , divide each ball 3 portions. roll in a long rope. Bread 3 pieces pinch the end of together and tuck underneath.
• 4. Arrange the breaded bread on the baking tray,3 or 4 inches a part . Glaze tops with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, or press color egg into the tops.( as shown on the picture). let rise again in warm place about 30 or 40 min. or until double in size. Bake a 350 degrees for about 25 min. or until golden brown. Cool. Bread can be freeze very well up to 6 months. You can reheat while is frozen at 350 degrees until warm and soft. Then seat back with cup of coffee or tea and enjoy it.

CHOEREG (ARMENIAN EASTER BREAD)

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, butter and margarine. Heat until butter and margarine are melted, but do not let it boil. Stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved, then set aside to cool to lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons of sugar in warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface, and let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Crack the eggs into a large bowl, and stir a little to break up the yolks. Slowly pour in the heated milk mixture while whisking constantly, so as to temper the eggs and not cook them. Add the yeast mixture, and stir just until blended.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, mahleb, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the wet mixture. Stir until it forms a sticky dough. Pour onto a floured surface, and knead in additional flour as needed to make a more substantial dough. Knead for about 10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, and set in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
• When the dough has doubled, punch down again, and let rise until doubled. It will only take about half as long this time.
• Separate the dough into 5 even portions, then separate each of those into thirds. Roll each of those into ropes about 12 inches long. Braid sets of three ropes together, pinching the ends to seal, and tucking them under for a better presentation. Place the loaves onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Loaves should be spaced 4 inches apart. Set in a warm place to rise until your finger leaves an impression behind when you poke the loaf gently.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush the loaves with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until nicely golden brown all over.

ARMENIAN BREAD ROUNDS - BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• In small saucepan, scaled milk by heating it just to boiling point, and set aside to cool.
• Add ingredients (except for garlic and olive oil) in order required by your bread machine.
• Program machine for dough.
• At end of rising cycle, turn the bread out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup olive oil with the crushed garlic. Set aside.
• Divide dough into 2 pieces, and with a floured rolling pin, roll each into a 1-inch-thick round.
• Lightly oil a large baking sheet and arrange the rounds on the sheet.
• Brush liberally with some of the garlic oil.
• Bake the rounds in the lower third of preheated 375º oven for 15 minutes, or until golden.
• Serve warm.

ARMENIAN BREAD

Steps:

• Scald the milk and stir in the butter and lard.
• Allow to cool to about 100°F, then crumble in the yeast and add the sugar and a few spoonfuls of warm water and leave in a warm place till frothy.
• Mix together the flour, sesame seeds, sunflower kernels and salt.
• Stir the yeast and milk mixture into the flour together with 2¾ cups of lukewarm water.
• Beat well and knead till smooth and silky.
• Leave to rise for about 45 minutes.
• Knead again and form into 3 large flat loaves.
• Lay the loaves on greased baking sheets and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
• Mix together the eggs, cheese, cumin, walnuts, and pepper and spread this thick paste over the loaves.
• Bake at 425° for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350° and bake for 30 minutes more or till the loaves are firm and golden and sound hollow when tapped.
• Cool on wire rack.

CHOEREG (ARMENIAN EASTER BREAD)

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, butter and margarine. Heat until butter and margarine are melted, but do not let it boil. Stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved, then set aside to cool to lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons of sugar in warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface, and let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Crack the eggs into a large bowl, and stir a little to break up the yolks. Slowly pour in the heated milk mixture while whisking constantly, so as to temper the eggs and not cook them. Add the yeast mixture, and stir just until blended.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, mahleb, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the wet mixture. Stir until it forms a sticky dough. Pour onto a floured surface, and knead in additional flour as needed to make a more substantial dough. Knead for about 10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, and set in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
• When the dough has doubled, punch down again, and let rise until doubled. It will only take about half as long this time.
• Separate the dough into 5 even portions, then separate each of those into thirds. Roll each of those into ropes about 12 inches long. Braid sets of three ropes together, pinching the ends to seal, and tucking them under for a better presentation. Place the loaves onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Loaves should be spaced 4 inches apart. Set in a warm place to rise until your finger leaves an impression behind when you poke the loaf gently.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush the loaves with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until nicely golden brown all over.

ARMENIAN TAHINI BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, 1 tsp. of the sugar, and 1/2 cup warm water in a small bowl; set aside to let rest until frothy, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir together flour, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl, then add yeast mixture, 2 tbsp. of the oil, and 1 cup water; stir into a rough dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes.
• Place dough into a large bowl greased with remaining 1 tbsp. oil. Cover with plastic wrap; let sit in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Divide dough into 2 balls, cover with a towel, and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Working on a lightly floured surface with 1 ball at a time, roll dough out into a 25" circle (keep remaining dough covered).
• Gently spread half the tahini evenly over the dough and sprinkle with 1 1⁄2 cups of the sugar.
• Roll the circle up end to end to make a rope. Gently roll and stretch the rope to double the length, then cut into 6-8 equal pieces. Tightly coil each rope so that it resembles a cinnamon roll, then flatten each with your hand into a dough round on a lightly floured surface. Roll out each round into a 7" circle, then transfer the circles to parchment paper-lined baking sheets, keeping them spaced apart.
• Let rest while you repeat the process with the remaining dough.
• Mist each round of dough generously with water and bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets.