Bosnian Bread Recipes

LEPINJA

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients except salt. Using the hook accessory, knead on medium speed and gradually incorporate milk and water.
• After a couple minutes, incorporate salt. Knead for 5 minutes at low speed and 3 minutes at medium speed until the dough gets a little sticky.
• Place the dough in a large container, cover and let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes, until it doubles in size.
• On a floured surface, work the dough with the palm of your hands for a couple minutes, then put it in the large container, cover and let it rise in a warm place for another 45 minutes.
• Divide the dough into pieces of approximately ½ lb (230g). On a floured surface, work each piece of dough with the palm of your hands again, then form balls and let rise for 10 minutes.
• Flatten each piece of dough with the palm of the hand. If necessary, finish with a roll pin to level but without much pressure. Cut slits on each loaf and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Set aside for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 410F/210C. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Lower the temperature to 300F/150C, and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes.
• Take the lepinja out of the oven, wrap the loaves with a cloth and let them cool off for 10 minutes so the crust softens.

SOFT AND CHEWY BALKAN BREAD

Steps:

• Mix milk and water in a pot over low heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the pot reads 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Remove from heat. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Pour mixture into a cup or other cylindrical glass; sprinkle yeast on top. Let mixture rest until yeast is frothy and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Stir flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and mix until a sticky dough forms.
• Turn dough out on a floured work surface and knead quickly for 5 minutes. Shape dough into a ball. Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add dough; toss around the bowl a few times to coat evenly with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Return dough back to the work surface and punch down. Coat your hands with a little olive oil and knead again for 1 minute. Divide into 5 balls. Flatten the balls out into thick rectangles. Place the rectangles of dough onto a greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with a thin coat of olive oil. Let rest for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while the dough rests.
• Bake bread in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. Switch to the broil setting until the top of the rolls turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool completely. Cut rolls in half lengthwise.

BOSNIAN BREAD

Steps:

• With your hands, mix together the flour, salt, yeast and 4 1/2 cups warm water (115 degrees) in a very large bowl until the batter is mixed thoroughly. It will look more like thick cake batter than dough and will be very sticky; do not knead.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 4 to 10 hours.
• Butter two 9-inch-by-5-inch metal loaf pans. Quickly stir down the batter, and divide evenly between the pans. Spray or very lightly brush tops of loaves with oil. Let them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Put the pans into the middle rack of a cold oven, then turn to 500 degrees. After 30 minutes, reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake until risen and light golden, an additional 40 to 45 minutes. Cool loaves thoroughly before serving.

LEPINJE (PITA BREAD) (BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA)

Steps:

• Proof the yeast with the sugar and about 1/2 cup of lukewarm water. Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• When the yeast is foamy, pour it into the flour with another 1/2 cup of water (approximately, stop when the dough is the right texture. You may need more or less water). Mix well. Your dough should be a little bit sticky.
• Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for five minutes. Shape into a ball and place in a large bowl greased with olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel, and let rise in a warm place for an hour or so, or until doubled in size.
• Put the dough back on the floured surface and punch down. Knead again for another minute, then divide into four balls. Brush with olive oil and let rest for 10 or 15 minutes.
• Roll the dough balls with a floured rolling pin until they are roughly the thickness of an extra-thick pizza crust.
• Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet and brush with a bit more olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel and let rest for another half hour or so.
• Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. When the dough has rested remove the towel and plastic and put it in the oven.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

LEPINJA (BALKAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk in a small bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam. Stir the warm water and sugar into the yeast mixture.
• Stir the flour and salt together in a separate bowl; add all but about 1/2 cup of the flour mixture to the yeast mixture; mix with your hands until a soft dough forms, adding the last of the flour mixture a little at a time until it clears the sides of the bowl. Cover the bowl with a light cloth and let the dough rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C)) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate, or 'punch down,' the dough and turn out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour; knead for about 5 minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover again with a light cloth, and allow the dough to again rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes more.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Deflate the dough and turn turn out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour; knead lightly. Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet; shape into an oval about 1/2-inch thick. Set aside to rise a third time for about 30 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until nicely browned and hollow sounding when thumped, 20 to 25 minutes.

BALKAN-STYLE SAVORY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter 9x13-inch baking pan; sprinkle 2 tablespoons cornmeal on bottom.
• Sift all-purpose flour, semolina flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Whisk spinach, buttermilk, feta cheese, eggs, and vegetable oil together in a separate large bowl. Stir flour mixture into spinach mixture just until pourable batter forms. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.