Sesame Onion Braid Food

SESAME WHEAT BRAIDS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar and oil; mix well. Stir in whole wheat flour; let stand until the mixture bubbles, about 5 minutes. , In a small bowl, beat eggs and water. Remove 2 tablespoons to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate. Add remaining egg mixture and salt to batter; mix until smooth. Add 4 cups all-purpose flour and beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and divide in half. Divide each half into thirds., Shape each into a rope about 15 in. long. Place 3 ropes on a greased baking sheet; braid. Pinch each end firmly and tuck under., Repeat, placing second braid on the same baking sheet. Brush braids with the reserved egg mixture; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to cool on a wire rack.

SESAME ONION NAN

Steps:

• Make bread dough:
• Stir together warm water and sugar in a measuring cup, then sprinkle yeast over mixture and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. (If yeast doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
• Stir together flour (3 3/4 cups), salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Stir together yogurt, egg, and oil in a small bowl. Make a well in center of flour mixture and add yeast mixture and yogurt mixture, then stir in flour mixture gradually with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together.
• Knead dough on a lightly floured surface with floured hands, lightly reflouring work surface and your hands when dough becomes too sticky, using no more than 1/4 cup flour, until dough is smooth, soft, and elastic, about 10 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled large bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Make topping while dough rises:
• Put oven rack with pizza stone in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 450F. (Heating pizza stone will take about 1 hour.)
• Coarsely grate onion on largest holes of a box grater and drain well in a sieve. Cook onion and sesame seeds in oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is just beginning to turn golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface without punching down. Cut dough into 2 pieces and transfer 1 piece to parchment-lined pizza peel or baking sheet. (Keep remaining piece of dough covered with plastic wrap.) Flatten dough with lightly oiled fingertips, patting and gently stretching into an 11- to 12-inch round.
• Spread half of onion mixture over round, then poke holes through dough all over with skewer.
• Slide bread, along with parchment, onto pizza stone. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove bread from oven by sliding peel under parchment. Transfer bread to a rack and discard parchment.
• While first flatbread is baking, make another bread on another sheet of parchment, then bake in same manner. Serve flatbreads warm.

BRAIDED SESAME SEED BREAD

Steps:

• Into hot milk, stir sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup butter.
• Cool to lukewarm.
• Sprinkle yeast over warm water in bowl.
• Stir to dissolve.
• Stir in lukewarm milk mixture.
• Add 2 eggs and 3 cups flour and beat at high speed for 2 minutes.
• With a wooden spoon gradually beat in 3 1/2 cups flour and mix with hand until dough is stiff enough to leave the side of the bowl.
• Knead for 10 minutes or until elastic.
• Place dough in lightly greased large bowl.
• Turn dough over to bring up greased side.
• Cover with towel and let rise for 1 1/2 hours in warm place.
• Divide dough in half and cut each half into thirds.
• Roll each third into 26" long strips.
• Braid three strips and pinch ends together.
• On a large greased cookie sheet, form braid into a ring (6 inches in diameter).
• Mix egg with 2 tablespoons water and brush top.
• Brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter.
• Let rise 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Brush with rest of egg mixture and put sesame or poppy seeds on top.
• Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown.