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Hungarian Country Loaf

White yeast bread with fennel
Print Recipe
Rise time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Hungarian
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 packet active dry yeast, (or 2 teaspoons)
  • 1 1/2 cup water
For the topping
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 tsp fennel seed for sprinkling

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 Set of measuring spoons
  • 1 set of measuring cups
  • 1 Kitchen knife
  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 spatula for stirring pan
  • 1 instant read thermometer
  • 1 small pot with lid
  • 1 Fork
  • 1 Small Bowl

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl put 4 cups of flour.
  2. In a small pot add water and sugar, and warm to 100-108℉. Remove from heat and add 1/3 cup flour from the large bowl with flour in it and stir. Add yeast and stir yeast, flour, sugar mixture.
  3. Melt butter in a small metal cup or Pyrex jar in microwave. Set aside.
  4. Cover and let stand for 8-10 minutes. Uncover and you will see bubbles forming on the top.
  5. In the large bowl with flour, add crushed fennel seeds and salt. Mix well.
  6. Add yeast starter to the large bowl with flour. Mix with a spatula, then your hands.
  7. Add butter a little at a time while kneading dough.
  8. Total time kneading dough will be about 10 minutes.
  9. Form dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl.
  10. Cover the dough with plastic. Let rise for about 45-60 minutes or until doubled in size.
    11. Dough should rise in a warm place. (not hot!)
  11. Uncover dough and punch down. Knead the dough a few times and place on a baking sheet. Form the dough into a loaf and cover with plastic. Let rise for 30-45 minutes. Or until doubled in bulk.
  12. Separate an egg. In a small bowl place the yolk and mix slightly. Set aside.
  13. Uncover the loaf and brush the top with the egg white. Sprinkle the loaf with 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds.
  14. Take a knife and slice the loaf down the middle about 3/4 inch deep.
  15. Place the loaf in a pre heated oven 400℉ for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes lower the oven temp to 350℉ for an additional 10 minutes.