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Braided Savory Cheese Tsoureki

Braided Savory Cheese Tsoureki

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This braided Savory cheese tsoureki is made with tsoureki dough and a filling made with cheese, eggs and mint.

Savory tsoureki image

I’ve been making tsourekia for years and when a recipe is tried and tested and good, I do not see any reason why changing it.  

However, things do happen in the kitchen.

Holy Thursday is the day we dye our Easter eggs and do most of the baking, so as usual, yesterday I dyed some eggs, made flaounes and made the usual recipe for tsourekia.   

However, I also like improvising, so while doing some stuff like kneading or waiting for the dough to rise, or while washing the dishes, my mind never stops thinking of things like “what if I do this.. or what if I add that”.  

This is the part of cooking or baking I love most:  to be able to  have a white canvas on which I can get inspiration from around me and create new things.

Savory tsoureki photo

Since it was not supposed to be a recipe to post, I did not take any notes on quantities used.  

I prepared the chestnut puree early in the morning this time adding an equal amount of sugar and honey, vanilla essence and enough milk to cover the chestnuts.

When I drained the leftover milk, it was about 1/4 of a cup, so instead of boiling water with anise seeds I decided to add it in the dough, together with more milk, as it would add extra flavour to the tsoureki.

Braided Tsoureki image

While I was making flaounes, the idea of making a savory tsoureki popped into my head.  

In the recipe I am giving you a simpler filling made with haloumi, mint and eggs.

This brioche type of bread has sugar in it but  it is not very sweet.  

Although I have not tasted it yet as I am fasting, I have no doubt in my mind that sweet bread with savory cheese will be a great combination.

Tsoureki with chestnut filling image

Update Easter morning:  

This Savory Cheese Tsoureki is simply amazing!  You can’t even sense the sugar in the dough.  

It’s mostly the sweet filling which sweetens it up and I realized that while eating the savory one and the one made with chestnut filling, for breakfast.

To make the bread, you can follow the recipe for Tsourekia I have already posted in the past.

Instead of braiding the tsoureki the normal way, I followed a different method, which is perfect for adding filling and also the result is very impressive.

Collage how to braid tsoureki image

How to make the cheese tsoureki

Prepare the dough and set aside to rise.

When the dough rises, divide it into two equal parts.

Roll out each part about ½ cm thick, trying to give it a rectangular or oval shape.

Lightly score the dough as a guide leaving a margin of about 7 cm on each side and 3 – 4 cm on top and bottom.

With a sharp knife cut outside the scored area around 10 strips at a angle on both sides.

Place the filling in the center, leaving a gap, around 2 cm on each side.

Fold up the top, then fold the bottom and then fold the strips, alternating from each side until all the strips are folded over.

Line a baking tin with parchment paper and place each braid in it but not too close to each other. Cover with cling film and then cover with a napkin and it must rest to rise for about an hour, in which time it will rise again.

Brush with the egg-milk mixture on top.

Preheat oven to 180 C / 350 F and bake for about 30 – 40 minutes or according to your oven, until golden brown. Smaller ones need less time.

I decorated the sweet tsoureki with blanched almonds and the savory tsoureki with sesame and poppy seeds.

My best wishes to all my Orthodox readers and friends for a Happy Easter and to the rest of you a wonderful weekend!

Savory cheese tsoureki picture

Braided Savory Cheese Tsoureki

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

This braided Savory cheese tsoureki is made with tsoureki dough and a filling made with cheese, eggs and mint.

Ingredients

For the yeast

  • 20 -25 grams fresh yeast (or 1 sachet 9 grams dried yeast)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup of lukewarm milk
  • 2 tablespoons flour (out of the whole flour used)

For the dough

  • 825 grams strong bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon anise seeds boiled in 1/2 cup of water
  • 110 grams sugar
  • 110 grams sheep and goat milk butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mahleb
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mastic resin
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt

For the filling

  • 250 grams halloumi or other cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped or 2 tbsp dried mint

Egg wash

  • 1 egg yolk mixed with a spoonful of milk for glazing
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast with some of the lukewarm milk. Add sugar and flour and mix to make a batter. Cover and set aside to bubble, for about 15 minutes.
  2. Melt the butter and mix in the sugar.
  3. Boil the anise seeds and drain. Set aside until it becomes lukewarm.
  4. Adjust the hook on your mixer.
  5. Put the flour with the salt, the mastic and the mahleb in the mixer bowl and mix on low speed to combine.
  6. Add the yeast mixture as well as the lukewarm anise water and mix.
  7. Add the melted butter with sugar and continue mixing on low speed.
  8. Beat the eggs with a fork and add to the mixer. Mix until well combined increasing the speed until the dough forms into a ball around the mixer hook. (If sticky add a little bit more flour).
  9. Cover with a napkin and set aside to rise and double in volume (for about an hour or more, depending on room temperature).
  10. When the dough rises, knead for a few minutes and divide it into two equal parts.
  11. Roll out each part about ½ cm thick, trying to give it a rectangular or oval shape.
  12. Lightly score the dough as a guide leaving a margin of about 7 cm on each side and 3 - 4 cm on top and bottom.
  13. With a sharp knife cut outside the scored area around 10 strips at a angle on both sides.
  14. Place the filling in the center, leaving a gap, around 2 cm on each side.
  15. Fold up the top, then fold the bottom and then fold the strips, alternating from each side until all the strips are folded over.
  16. Line a baking tin with parchment paper and place each braid in it but not too close to each other. Cover with cling film and then cover with a napkin and it must rest to rise for about an hour, in which time it will rise again.
  17. Brush with the egg-milk mixture on top and sprinkle some sesame seeds.
  18. Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 F and bake for about 30 - 40 minutes or according to your oven, until golden brown. Smaller ones need less time.

Notes

The amounts given above are just a rough estimate. To make the tsoureki dough just follow the instructions for my recipe Tsoureki with Chestnut filling.

The above filling is for two savory tsourekia.

Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 3277Total Fat 80gSaturated Fat 32gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 35gCholesterol 601mgSodium 1525mgCarbohydrates 475gFiber 79gSugar 62gProtein 201g

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Tsourekia

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Nadji

Wednesday 18th of April 2012

Une belle tresse. Une vraie gourmandise. A bientôt

Núria

Monday 16th of April 2012

I'm so impressed! That is an awesome bread Ivy! It looks and must have tasted great!!! I give you a 20 over 10, Yes!

Angie

Sunday 15th of April 2012

This is my kind of bread too. Soft, sweet and savoury...great for the breakfast.

Simona

Saturday 14th of April 2012

Both the tsoureki and the colorful eggs look beautiful. Happy Easter!

Poornima

Saturday 14th of April 2012

The braid looks fabulous and I love the cheesy filling!

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