EASY GREEK BREAD RINGS WITH SESAME SEEDS (KOULOURIA)

Easy Greek Bread Rings with Sesame Seeds (Koulouria) image

A classic Greek street fare that is perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.

Provided by Marilena Leavitt

Time 32m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

3 cups AP flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
1½ tsp. sea salt
2 TBSP. sugar (or honey)
1¼ cups lukewarm water
2 packages of active dry yeast
For the coating:
2 cups of room temperature water
2 TBSP. sugar
--- sesame seeds
--- melted butter to brush on

Steps:

Mix the flours and the salt in the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a hook. Set aside. Pour the water into a larger glass measuring cup and stir in the yeast and the sugar, until the yeast is dissolved. Let the liquid rest for 5 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy.
With the motor running, add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until it forms a soft, elastic dough. The dough should be easy to handle and it should pull away from the bottom and the sides of the bowl. If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water; if it is too wet, add a tablespoon of flour. Grease the bowl with olive oil, place the dough back into the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for one hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 375°F Convection/Fan.
To make the coating, fill a bowl with about 2 cups of room temperature water. Add the sugar and mix well to dissolve. Put the sesame seeds in a separate, shallow bowl.
Brush some olive oil on to a clean work surface. Turn out the dough onto the surface, cut it into 10 pieces, and form smooth balls of uniform size.
Roll each ball by hand in to a long roll (like a sausage). Bring the two edges together to form a circle. Try to make the 10 circles all the same size and shape so they bake evenly.
7. Dip each bread ring into the bowl with water and sugar, gently shake off the excess water, and dip the ring (on both sides) into the bowl with the sesame seeds. Place the coated ring on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven and place on a rack. Brush gently with some melted butter while they are still hot and serve!