This traditional Ukrainian dish is a popular dish at Easter because it is considered a sacred dish. Creating Paska is seen as a way to resurrect sun onto the Earth after Winter and open a new year. It used to take Ukrainians over 24 hours to cook a Paska but nowadays we are able to cook in maximum a few hours. I have always loved the tradition and story behind Paska bread, as I have only had it once or twice I still remains as one of my favorite Ukrainian dishes!
Ingredients:
7 cups of Flour
1 Tbsp of Salt
1 Egg
1/2 cup of Oil
1/4 cup of Sugar
1/2 cup of Milk
2 cups of Water
1 Tsp of Yeast
1/4 cup of Water
1/2 Tsp of Sugar
How to make:
Put Yeast in a bowl with 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 tsp of sugar and let it rise for 10 minutes.
Put flour into a large bowl then make a well (medium size indent) in the middle of the flour.
In a pot, warm 2 cups of water and milk. Add salt, 1/4 cup of sugar, oil, and beaten egg.
Add milk mixture and yeast to the flour. Mix well then knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is nice and smooth.
The dough should be thicker than bread. Let it rise for 2 hours. Punch down. Take a small piece of dough and flatten well. Place on the bottom of pan to fit bottom of whole pan about 1/2 an inch thick.
Roll out 2 pieces of dough about 20 inches long and 1/2 inch thick. Then roll dough in flour
Decision time!
You can either twist you 2 pieces of dough or make a third piece and braid the dough.
Use a round aluminum foil pan 1 1/2 inches high and place braid or twisted bread on top of flattened piece of dough all around the pan.
Make a rosette in the middle by taking a small piece of dough, rolling about 5 inches long and 1/2 inch thick and flattening down by hand or by using a rolling pin.
Take a sharp knife and make close slits so it doesn’t stick together.
Roll to form a flower. Make a good dent in middle of dough in pan. Wet dent; place flower in dent. Roll another piece of dough and make curls around the flower. Let rise for about 3/4 hour. Bake at 350F to 375F for 1 hour or until golden brown.
Remove from oven. Brush with lots of butter (or egg yolks beaten with a little water)
Serve warm and enjoy!
This video is a cook making a paska bread! (the colors are just food dye lol)
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