Potica Food

OLGA'S POTICA

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 4 tablespoons lukewarm milk. Add 1 teaspoon sugar and 3 tablespoons flour. Stir well and set aside.
• Blend 1 cup melted butter with 4 tablespoons sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add egg yolks, one at a time. Add yeast mixture and mix well.
• Switch to the dough hook attachment. Add 5 cups sifted flour, salt, and 1 1/3 cup milk l. Beat dough on speed 2 for 10 minutes or until dough has good gluten development. Dust with flour, cover bowl with a clean dish towel, and let rise 2 hours.
• Cut dough in half and roll out each half as thin as possible on floured board. Keep remaining dough covered with plastic wrap while you work. Spread each thin rectangle of dough with melted butter, honey, raisins, and walnuts, and dust generously with cinnamon.
• Roll up like jelly roll, place each loaf on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover with greased plastic wrap, and allow to rise for one hour (for loaf pan instructions, see Editor's Note).
• Bake in preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until crust is deep golden brown and the internal temperature of each loaf reaches 185 degrees F.

POTICA (SLOVENIAN NUT ROLL)

Steps:

• We traditionally bake potica in a cake pan called Poticnik. It's similar to a bundt cake pan, so you can use that or use a loaf pan. Grease with butter or lard and set aside.
• In a small bowl knead together yeast, sugar, and lukewarm milk. Set aside for 10 minutes for the yeast to grow. In a large bowl combine all-purpose flour, yeast mixture, and egg yolks. Knead for a minute, then add melted butter and salt. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or use an electric mixer and knead until the dough is nice, soft and elastic, for about 5 minutes (using a mixer). Cover with cling film and set aside for about 50 - 60 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Put the walnuts in a bowl of a food processor and pulse for a few seconds at a time until the walnuts are fine. Transfer to a large bowl. In a saucepan combine heavy cream, floral honey, sugar, butter, rum (optionally), lemon zest and ground cinnamon. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, then pour over the walnuts in a bowl. Stir to combine to get a nice walnut filling. Set aside for the mixture to cool to room temperature. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites with sugar to get stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the walnut mixture and stir to combine. The walnut filling mixture should be light, yet stirred well.
• Preheat your oven to 190 °C / 375 °F. Generously dust your working area with flour. Roll the dough into a 40 cm x 35 cm / 16-inches x 13.5-inches rectangle, thickness 0.5 cm or 0.2-inch. Using an offset spatula, spread the walnut filling in an even layer over the dough. Starting at the shorter edge nearest you, tightly roll up into a tight log. Brush off any excess flour. Transfer the potica roll to the prepared pan so that the seam is looking upward. Make sure that the ends of the log are tightly pressed together or the potica won't be as pretty and the filling will spread out while baking.
• Cover the potica with a towel or cling film and let stand at room temperature until doubled in size, about 45 - 55 minutes.
• If you want to proof the potica overnight, you first need to leave out the first bulk proofing. Once you knead the dough, leave it to rest at your working surface for about 15 minutes, then roll the dough into a rectangle and spread the walnut filling over the dough. Roll, transfer to your prepared pan. Cover with cling film or towel and place in the fridge to proof for about 8 - 12 hours. Then, place the cold potica into your preheated oven to bake.
• Using a brush, gently brush the potica with lukewarm milk. Use a skewer to poke holes all over the top of the potica all the way through to prevent air bubbles from forming and separating the filling from the dough. Transfer the potica to the preheated oven. Bake for 45 minutes at 180 °C / 355 °F. Then lower the heat to 160 °C / 320 °F and continue to bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until the nut roll is puffed and golden brown. Let cool slightly, for about 5 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and remove the pan. Leave the potica to cool, then sprinkle with icing sugar and serve. Enjoy.

POTECA CAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, melt butter with the milk; cool. Stir in egg yolks until blended. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water., In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; add butter mixture and yeast mixture. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes (dough will be sticky). Cover and refrigerate overnight., In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the nuts, dates, milk, 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Cook and stir until mixture forms a paste. Transfer to a large bowl., In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Fold into nut mixture., Cut dough in half; on a floured surface, roll 1 portion into a 20-inch square. Spread with half of the filling. Roll up tightly jelly-roll style. Place, seam side up, in a greased 10-in. tube pan. Repeat with second portion; place, seam side down, over the first roll-up in the pan (layers will bake as 1 loaf)., Bake at 350° until golden brown, 60-70 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

POTICA - TRADITIONAL SLOVENIAN NUT ROLL

Steps:

• Stir the sugar, salt and ¼ cup butter into hot milk.Cool to lukewarm. (a drop on your wrist won't feel hot)
• Sprinkle the yeast over warm water in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve.
• Stir in lukewarm milk mixture to the yeast mixture.
• Add 2 eggs and 2 ½ cups flour to the yeast mixture. Use a wooden spoon to mix in the ingredients until smooth.
• Gradually add in the remaining 2 cups flour; knead by hand until the dough is stiff enough to leave the side of the bowl.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased large bowl. Turn dough over - greased side up - and cover with a towel.
• Let the dough rise in warm place (85F) free from drafts, until doubled in size - about an hour.
• In a medium bowl beat the eggs slightly. Add the walnuts, brown sugar, ⅓ cup of melted butter, cinnamon and vanilla.Stir until well blended and set aside until needed.
• When the dough has risen, punch it down and turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Cover the dough with a bowl and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll the dough out to a 30×20" rectangle.
• Spread the walnut filling on top of the dough, leaving 1 inch of the edge uncovered around the entire dough.
• Starting from the wide side, begin rolling up the dough tightly (jellyroll style). Seal by pinching the edges of dough with your fingers.
• On a large greased cookie sheet or seasoned baking stone, form the roll into a large coil.
• Let the potica rise in a warm place (85F), covered with a towel, for one hour.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Brush the potica with 2 Tablespoons of melted butter.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.
• Cool on wire rack before cutting.

POTICA

Steps:

• in a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm sugared water --.
• in a small pan, scald the milk and add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the butter.
• When cool, add the beaten egg, egg yolks and salt to the milk.
• Meanwhile, plae 4 1/4 cup flour and the remaining 1/2 cup of the butter into a large food processor bowl or a large mixing bowl.
• process for 15 seconds or until well combined.
• then add the milk and egg mixture plus the yeast mixture.
• process until the mixture forms a ball.
• if the dough is too sticky to form a ball.keep the processor on and add flour.1 tbls at a time until it comes together.
• continue processing untl the ball rotates around the bowl 25 times.
• if doing hand mixing or using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, mix to knead until a smooth dough is formed.
• if flour needs to be added "less is more" dough that is slightly sticky is better than dry dough.
• let the dough rest 5 minutes, then turn it onto a floured surface and knead a few times.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased large bowl.turn once and cover lightly with plastic wrap.
• let rise in a warm spot (approximately 80* until doubled, about 1 hour.
• punch down thoroughly, oil the top and let rise again, until doubled, about 1 more hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling.
• process the nuts in a food processor until fine (or chop in a blender) transfer to a medium bowl.
• in a small saucepan, heat the cream to almost a boil.
• add the hot cream to the nuts, along with the butter, brown sugar, lemon rind, egg and cinnamon.
• process to blend well.
• After the dough has risen the second time, punch down and divide in half.
• transfer to a floured surface and roll out each piece of dough into a rectangle, about 14 x 24" and 1/8" thick.
• roll as thin as possible for a really fine poticia.
• spread one rectangle with half the walnut filling, spreading it to within 1" of the edges.
• starting at the long side of the rectangle, roll up the poticia firmly, jelly roll fashion --.
• repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• transfer the rolls to a large greased baking sheet.
• shape each into a coil or U shape, seam sides down.
• the U shape is used for economy of space.a snail-like coil makes a more attractive gift.
• let the poticia rise again until doubled.about 45 minutes.
• preheat the oven to 350*.
• brush the tops of the poticia with the beaten egg and bake for 30-40 minutes or until lightly browned.
• remove to a wire rack to cool.
• just before serving, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
• if freezing, add confectioners' sugar after thawing completely.

POTICA

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the flour in warm milk. Mix well, and let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with the remaining sugar. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the yeast mixture, remaining milk, 4 cups of flour and the salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Lightly grease one or two cookie sheets. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and roll Out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread each piece with melted butter, honey, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon. Roll each piece up like a jelly roll and pinch the ends. Place seam side down onto the prepared baking sheets. Let rise until double in volume. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

POTICA (CROATIAN NUT ROLL)

Steps:

• Stir yeast into water.
• Mix butter, milk, sugar, and salt.
• Add egg yolks, yeast mixture and 2 cup flour.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Add remaining flour and turn dough out on a floured surface.
• Knead until smooth, elastic and does not stick to surface.
• Place in greased bowl and let rise 1 hour.
• Grease your baking pan.
• Filling: mix milk, salt, margarine and sugar.
• Heat slightly until margarine melts and sugar is dissolved.
• Add nuts then to stretch mixture you can fold in beaten egg whites.
• After it has risen, divide into 4 equal parts.
• Do not knead.
• Roll each piece to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with cooled filling.
• Roll jelly-roll style and place seam down in a greased pan.
• Let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake 40 - 45 minutes.

WALNUT POTICA

Steps:

• Place the eggs and yeast at room temperature at least half an hour before baking. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl (I prefer plastic bowls) to make it lighter and airier in texture. Mix gently to ensure both types of flour are well-integrated. Don't use a bowl that is cold to the touch, as it will interfere with the quality of your leavened dough. Yeast Mixture Crush the yeast into a small bowl, add one teaspoon of sugar, 4 tablespoons of lukewarm milk, and 1 tablespoon of sifted flour. Stir gently, cover the bowl with a dishcloth and allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, about 10 to 15 minutes. In cold weather, set the mixture in a warm place to expedite fermentation. Egg Yolk Mixture Beat the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla sugar, rum, lemon zest, and salt into a fluffy mixture before adding lukewarm milk to it. Melt the butter and allow it to cool so it's not too hot when mixed with the flour. Return to the bowl of sifted flour and form a depression in the center, then pour in the yeast mixture. Use a wooden spoon to slowly fold the flour from the edges into the yeast mixture. Now add the egg yolk mixture and stir again before putting in the melted butter. Please take 20 minutes to knead the ingredients until they form a soft, silky texture that doesn't stick to your hands or the bowl. Add some strong bread flour, if necessary. Then form a loaf, cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to rise to twice its original size-about an hour to an hour and a half. For best leavening results, keep the room temperature above 25°C/77°F. In the meantime, prepare the filling. First, grind the walnuts. Add vanilla and regular sugar to milk and bring everything to a boil for the sugar to dissolve. Then pour the milk over the ground walnuts. Melt the butter in a smaller pan and add it to the walnut mixture while still hot. Mix the walnut concoction well and allow it to cool before adding lemon zest and rum to it. Beat the egg white with sugar and a pinch of salt until stiff and mix it carefully into the walnut mixture. Prepare the work surface by laying a larger dishcloth over it, then sprinkle some strong bread flour evenly across it. Place the dough on the dishcloth and roll it out to form a square that is 1 finger-width thick (1 cm/0.4 inch). Once rolled, the dough should measure 55x55 cm (21x21 inches) in size, which is a perfect fit for a 27 cm (10 inches) potičnik. Spread the filling evenly to the edge of the stretched-out dough. Begin rolling up the dough from one side, gently pulling on the emerging tube to ensure the flat dough ahead is taut. Use fingers while rolling up the dough to squeeze out trapped air to prevent air bubbles from forming during baking. Pinch in the side edges as you go to avoid filling-free bites. Continue until the dough is rolled up. Butter the potičnik and use a kitchen cloth to determine the length of the dough to match the circumference of the potičnik.Feel free to cut away the edges as necessary to ensure a proper fit. Place the dough into the potičnik. Use a thin wooden stick to poke holes through the dough to facilitate air expulsion, then cover it with a dishcloth and set it in a warm place for another one-hour leavening session-Preheat the convention oven to 180°C/350°F. Perforate the dough again, put it in the oven and bake for one hour. If the crust turns yellow before the end of baking, cover the potica with baking paper; otherwise, keep the oven closed the entire time. When baked (check by inserting a knife blade into the dough-it's done when the blade is clean), take the mold out of the oven and immediately flip it over, so it slides out. Allow it to cool, preferably on a wooden surface, then sprinkle caster sugar over it.