Video and recipe by Alexandra Nikolidaki
(home.alexandras on social media)
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and spiritual reflection in the Christian religion leading up to Easter.
One of the most important foods in the Greek Orthodox Easter is Lagana — a flat, sesame-crusted bread baked only for this celebration.
Ingredients (Makes 2 Lagana Breads):
- 1 pound (500 g) bread flour or all purpose flour
- 11/4 tbsp (20 g) dry yeast (or 50g fresh yeast)
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 11/2 cups (340) ml lukewarm water
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Sesame seeds for topping
- A little water for brushing
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the lukewarm water, honey, and yeast. Stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add the flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead for about 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes soft and elastic.
- We want the dough slightly sticky. If it sticks excessively, add a little flour; if it feels too firm, add a bit of water.
- Cover and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into two pieces.
- Place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper (sprinkled with sesame seeds underneath).
- With lightly oiled hands, shape each piece into an oval about 1-1.5 cm thick.
- Mix 50 ml water with 1 tablespoon honey and brush the surface. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
- Let them rise again for 20-30 minutes.
- Then dip your fingers in the honey-water mixture and press deep dimples all over the surface – this is the characteristic look of lagana.
- Bake both breads at the same time in a preheated oven at 200°C (fan) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
