Russian Black Bread
photo by Jacki B.
- Ready In:
- 3hrs 40mins
- Ingredients:
- 17
- Yields:
-
2 Loaves
ingredients
- 4 cups rye flour
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups 100% all-bran cereal
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds, crushed
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
- 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
- 2 1⁄2 cups water
- 1⁄4 cup vinegar
- 1⁄4 cup dark molasses
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
- 1⁄4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1⁄2 cup cold water
directions
- Combine flours. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix 2 1/3 cups flour mixture, sugar, salt, cereal, caraway seed, coffee powder, onion powder, fennel seed and undissolved yeast.
- In a sauce pan combine 2 1/2 cups water, vinegar, molasses, chocolate and butter.
- Heat liquid mixture over low heat until liquids are very warm (120°-130°F), butter and chocolate do not have to be melted.
- Gradually add heated liquid mixture to dry ingredients and beat (with electric mixer) for 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 cup flour mixture. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough additional flour mixture to make a soft dough. Turn dough on to a lightly floured board. Cover dough and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Knead dough until smooth and elastic (about 10-15 minutes), dough may be sticky. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning dough to grease the top. Cover bowl and place in a warm, draft free place to rise until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
- Punch dough down; turn out onto a lightly floured board. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a ball, about 5 inches in diameter. Place each ball into the center of a greased 8-inch round cake pan. Cover; let rise in a warm, draft free place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour). Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until done.
- Meanwhile, combine cornstarch and cold water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture stats to boil; continue cooking mixture for 1 minute stirring constantly.
- As soon as bread is baked, brush cornstarch mixture over top of loaves. Return bread to oven and bake 2-3 minutes longer, or until glaze is set. Remove loaves from pans and cool on wire racks.
- **I have made this recipe both"as is" and also omitting the fennel seeds and onion powder. Omitting the fennel seed and onion powder changes the flavor a bit, but it is still a very good bread.
Questions & Replies
Reviews
-
Turned out really great!! I followed the directions exactly and the dough raised perfectly. The color is great. I made it with my Kazakhstanie friend and he said the flavor was perfect, we ate it with cream cheese and jelly like they do in Kazakhstan. I made one loaf in a bread pan for sandwiches and the other artisan style for toast.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Dee514
United States
I'm married (46 years to the same lucky guy) and have 2 kids, a daughter 41, a son 36, and 2 beautiful grand daughters (8 yrs and 6 yrs). I have always enjoyed cooking and baking, especially breads :) One of my favorite quotes:?? Computers are like air conditioners; they stop working when you open Windows.