Tsoureki: The Timeless Greek Easter Tradition on Your Table

 Discover the sweet tradition of Tsoureki, a beloved Greek bread enjoyed year-round, especially during Easter and Christmas. This delicacy has global counterparts like chorek, brçörək, kozunak, and cozonac. Greeks embraced "tsoureki" during Turkish rule, enriching it with eggs, milk, and butter. Its name derives from the Turkish "çörek," signifying yeast-based dough.

Tsoureki embodies Christ's resurrection, with its flour-to-bread transformation symbolizing life. Also known as "lambrokouloura," Greek Easter Tsoureki requires flour, milk, mahlep, mastic, eggs, butter, sugar, and almonds. It's often brushed with an egg wash and flavored with mahlep, mastic resin, or orange zest, infusing irresistible aroma and taste. Mahlep and mastic are aromatic spice and resin, hailing from Chios, respectively.

For Greeks, Tsoureki is Easter's centerpiece, its aroma irresistible and its taste timeless. Our recipe serves 10, with an hour prep and 40-minute bake time, but patience is key, as it rests for over four hours. A slice contains around 200 calories. Make your Easter memorable with homemade Tsoureki!

tsoureki

Tsoureki – Ingredients

  • 1½  k of flour
  • 400 g of sugar
  • 320 g of butter
  • 100 g of yeast
  • 230 g of milk, lukewarm
  • 3 eggs, beaten.
  • 1 teaspoon of mastic
  • 1 teaspoon of mahlep
  • Almonds blanched, browned, and coarsely crushed.

Tsoureki – How to Make

  1. Start this Greek Easter tsoureki recipe by dissolving the yeast in a little warm milk and adding around 3 to 4 tablespoons of flour.
  2. Allow the yeast to rise in a warm place.
  3. In the meantime, take a deep bowl and sift the rest of the flow.
  4. Make a hole in the center of the flour and when the yeast has risen, put the yeast mixture in it.
  5. Take a pan and add the remaining milk, eggs, sugar, half of the mastic, and 250 g of the butter. Bring to a boil over medium temperature allowing the ingredients to combine well.
  6. Pour half this mixture into the bowl with the flour and yeast and knead well with your hands.
  7. Melt the rest of the butter.
  8. Now pour the remaining egg mixture into the flour and yeast mixture.
  9. Continue kneading, greasing your hands with the melted butter.
  10. Make sure the dough has a good consistency, neither stiff nor runny.
  11. You may need to add more flour depending on the consistency.
  12. Place the dough, covered with a clean cloth, in a warm place to rise.
  13. The dough is ready when risen enough. This should take around 2 hours.
  14. Take a baking pan and cover it with some non-stick paper.
  15. Separate the dough into 3 thick strips and plait them. Place them on the baking pan and allow it to rest for another hour.
  16. Preheat oven to 180 °C.
  17. Brush it with beaten egg and sprinkle with the almonds and the rest of the mastic
  18. You may decorate the tsoureki with a red hard-boiled egg at one end.
  19. Bake for around 40 minutes.
  20. Allow to cool down before serving. 

In the heart of every Greek household, Tsoureki stands as a timeless symbol of tradition and celebration. This sweet bread, enriched with history and flavors, bridges cultures and brings families together, especially during Easter and Christmas. Its journey, from the Turkish influence to its modern-day Greek incarnation, is a testament to the power of culinary evolution.

As you embark on your own Tsoureki-making adventure, remember the profound symbolism woven into its very dough—the resurrection of Christ and the gift of life itself. Each bite tells a story that transcends borders and generations.

So, embrace the aroma that fills your kitchen, savor the taste that connects you to a rich heritage, and share this delightful bread with loved ones. In every slice of Tsoureki, you'll find not just calories but a slice of Greek culture and a taste of tradition that's meant to be cherished and shared. Happy baking!  If you looking for another classic Greek Easter dessert, you should try this delicious lazarakia recipe Happy Easter!