For me, its very important that the korovai be well baked, be special. Cream butter and vanilla together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Small Korovai: 100g oil or melted butter, In the Eastern regions, korovai was baked in the brides house. Preheat oven to 350. Method: 6~7 tbsp sugar, This Elaborate Ukrainian Bread Is the Wedding Dessert We Didn - Saveur Ive already made the breadsticks and they are great too!! Sometimes, shells or chicken bones were put in the kurnik for good luck. Traditionally, the wedding bread included two parts: the lower layer - the so-called "sole" or "bottom" that was made of rye or wheat flour and the top layer that presented a large round loaf of bread made of sweet dough (fancy pastry). Knead until dough is smooth and leaves the hand. This bread - karavai - was baked in a round shape for weddings, and was decorated with braids, flowers and swans made of dough. Now put it out on your working surface and knead just a little for all the bubbles to deflate. You can make this bread in a bread machine, if you wish, and it will be a lot simpler and faster. It was believed that a successful korovai (high, puff, and evenly baked) brings happiness to family life. Traditionally Russians have this with salted pork fat or herring and ice-cold vodka. Ingredients: Once it has doubled in size, brush again with egg wash and add the finishing touches, such as sesame seeds. In some regions, the odd number of cookies was considered a lucky one, especially if the number was seven. Assembling the Korovai: Add the softened butter and mix for an additional 5 minutes. Take out the loaf, shift it on paper tissue (otherwise the bottom will get damp), and grease it with butter or sweetened water. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans. Transfer dough onto the countertop and knead about 4 minutes (just until dough is smooth). Sprinkle with whole coriander seeds, if desired. The tradition to makekaravaybread for a wedding is one of the most venerable in Russia, and it is still considered to be the main symbol of the marriage ceremony, regardless of the format of the wedding. To lighten the loaf and give it a crunchier texture, all-purpose flour and rye meal can replace some of the dark rye flour as indicated below. All these elements should be prepared in advance so that they can be attached onto the pretzel as soon as its proofing is over. Each decoration is steeped in symbolism: the pair of birds typically found on top represents the couple; braids celebrate the intertwining of their families; and flowers, pine cones, grapes, and periwinkle vines are harbingers of beauty, fertility, wealth, and eternal love, respectively. Braid and arrange in a circle around the bottom of the dutch oven, overlapping ends. Needless to say, one has to grease all the elements with egg yolks or whites. After the first rise, shape the dough into an oblong loaf. 20g dry yeast, Parents of the groom (the mother is holding the loaf on an embroidered towel) congratulate the groom and the bride. Then add the egg, and mix. all4wedding.com (2) Roll it into the flour and shape into a loaf type form and place in the tin. It is a married man who is to put the round loaf into the stove, also saying a prayer, along with the people present at the ceremony. When i'm not cooking i love long walks, reading thriller novels and spending time with my grandkids. Karavayis a type of bread known since pagan times. Why wedding karavai can't be bought in the store, but only baked at home, 5 unusual vareniki recipes from Miss Vareniki herself, 5 simple sexy Russian recipes for a romantic night-in, Kruglik: A dream pie for a Cossack wedding (RECIPE), Why Russians cook special dishes for religious holidays.