Christmas koulourakia with yeast

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5 from 1 vote

Christmas koulourakia with yeast

Savoury Christmas koulourakia made with yeast!

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Resting time, total14

Total Time14 50

Course: Bread, meze, Snack

Cuisine: Greek

Servings: cookies

Calories: 87kcal

Author: Mia Kouppa

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vegetable oil
13 cups flour
orange peel from 3 oranges, dried or fresh
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme, or a sprig of fresh thyme
1 liter + 1/2 cup water
2 tbsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp vegetable oil, or any other mild oil

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

The night before you are planning to make your koulourakia, mix your flour with the olive oil and the vegetable oil. The flour will be somewhat crumbly; cover it with a clean kitchen towel and leave at room temperature until you are ready to use it the next day.
1/2 cup olive oil, 13 cups flour, 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Several hours before you are planning to make your koulourakia you must prepare the liquid which will be used for the dough.
In a medium size pot combine the orange peel, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, cloves, thyme and salt. Add 1 liter and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to medium high and cook, covered, for 20 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow to rest with the cover still on for approximately 2 hours, or longer. If you prepare the liquid the night before, you can keep it in the refrigerator after it has come to room temperature. You will have to reheat it to warm for the next step.
orange peel from 3 oranges, dried or fresh, 1 cinnamon stick, 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves, 1 whole nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, or a sprig of fresh thyme, 1 liter + 1/2 cup water
In a small mixing bowl combine 1/2 cup of the warm liquid with the yeast. Mix well and allow to sit for 2 - 3 minutes.
2 tbsp active dry yeast
Add the yeast to the large bowl of flour along with 3 1/2 cups of additional water. Mix well and knead the dough for approximately 7 - 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the bowl and continue to knead. Watch video here, to see what the dough should look like. Shape the dough into a ball and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm, draft-free place and allow to rise for approximately 2 hours or until doubled in size.
1 tbsp vegetable oil, or any other mild oil
To prepare the koulourakia take approximately 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it on a clean surface to make a strip which is approximately 6 to 8 inches long. Pinch the ends together to make it round. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and allow to rise for an additional 20 - 30 minutes.
Bake in a 350 degree pre-heated oven for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown.
Enjoy!

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