Bread braid with garlic and herbs

Step-by-step preparation

Cooking time: 3 hr

1. STEP 1

   

   How to bake braided bread with garlic and herbs? Prepare all the necessary ingredients. Take premium flour, eggs - C1 or C0. Remove eggs and butter from the refrigerator 1-1.5 hours before cooking. To make a successful dough, the egg must be at room temperature and the butter must be soft. For greens, I took everything I had at home - parsley, dill and thyme.

2. STEP 2

   

   Start by preparing the dough mixture. Heat the milk to a temperature of 37-40 degrees. Dissolve honey in it and add yeast. If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, determine the temperature in the following way: place a drop of water on the inside of your wrist. If the feeling is neutral, then the temperature is correct.

3. STEP 3

   

   Add 3-4 tablespoons of sifted flour and stir until smooth. Cover with a towel and leave for 30-40 minutes in a warm place. Sift all the flour used in order to separate small debris, saturate it with oxygen and the dough will be more fluffy.

4. STEP 4

   

   While the dough is preparing, make the filling. Remove limp leaves and hard stems from the greens, rinse and dry. Peel and wash the garlic.

5. STEP 5

   

   Chop with a knife. The smaller the greens, the neater the filling will look. Take a deep bowl for the filling. Transfer the chopped herbs and half the amount of oil indicated in the recipe. Grate the cheese and garlic onto a fine grater to make the filling more uniform.

6. STEP 6

   

   Add 0.5 teaspoon of salt and mix thoroughly until smooth.

7. STEP 7

   

   When an air cap appears on the dough, that is, the yeast is activated, you can continue working with the dough. Wash the eggs with soap. Add salt, eggs and butter to the dough. Mix everything well.

8. STEP 8

   

   To knead the dough, take a deep bowl. Sift half of the remaining flour into a bowl, make a well in the middle and pour the dough into it. Stir with a spoon until smooth.

9. STEP 9

   

   The properties of flour of the same type, but from different manufacturers may differ. Therefore, to get the desired consistency, add the remaining flour in small portions. When it becomes difficult to knead with a spoon, start doing it with your hands. Knead the dough thoroughly for at least 10 minutes.

10. STEP 10

    

    The dough should be soft, tender and slightly stick to your hands. Form the dough into a ball, cover the bowl with a napkin or towel so that it does not dry out and rises well. Leave in a warm place for about 1.5-2 hours. The time depends on the properties of the yeast, honey and the conditions in which the dough will be placed.

11. STEP 11

    

    When the dough has increased 1.5-2 times in volume, it is ready and you can start working with it.

12. STEP 12

    

    From the specified amount you get 2 loaves. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface into a rectangular layer 0.5-0.7 cm thick. Sprinkle your hands and rolling pin with flour to prevent the dough from sticking.

13. STEP 13

    

    Spread half of the filling evenly over the dough.

14. STEP 14

    

    Roll the dough into a log and pinch along the edges and along the seam so that the dough does not separate.

15. STEP 15

    

    Using a sharp large knife, carefully cut the resulting roll lengthwise, leaving one end intact. Turn the dough out with the filling facing up.

16. STEP 16

    

    Twist the two halves of the dough together to form a braid. In this case, the filling should remain on top. At the end of the braid, pinch the two ends of the dough.

17. STEP 17

    

    Roll the dough into a spiral (or snake) around one end. And fold the other end in the same way to get a symmetrical figure. Roll both ends until the dough is gone.

18. STEP 18

    

    Carefully transfer the shaped bread to a parchment-lined baking sheet. If the parchment is not non-stick, grease it with oil to prevent the bread from sticking to the surface. Make another loaf from the second part of the dough. Cover with a towel and leave to rise in a warm place for about an hour. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. When the bread has risen, place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes on the top-bottom setting.