Serbian Lenten Pogacha Bread Recipes

POGAčA

Steps:

• Heat the milk and add the butter. Cool to a warm temperature of 95 F (36 C).
• Add the yeast and sugar and mix until dissolved.
• Leave to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 15 minutes.
• Add the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer and dig a well in the center. Add the mixture of milk and yeast, sour cream, oil, lemon juice (or vinegar) and egg to the center of the well.
• Using the dough hook, knead at medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the salt and knead again for 5 minutes. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rise for an hour in a warm place, away from drafts.
• On a lightly floured work surface, punch the dough and divide it into two pieces.
• Place each piece of dough in a greased pastry ring, about 5 inches (12 cm) in diameter and flatten by hand, or form two round loaves by hand of about 5 inches in diameter.
• Using a sharp knife, draw a cross on top of the dough.
• Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 15 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
• Bake both loaves for about 50 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and place the buns on a cooling rack.

SERBIAN POGACA

Steps:

• 1. Mix salt, sugar, yeast and water in a large bowl.
• 2. Add 3 cups flour & mix well (use large wooden spoon). Add 3 Tbsp. oil and mix well, dough will become very sticky. Add 2 cups flour and mix well (use hands).
• 3. Let dough rest in bowl about 5-minutes. Then take out and knead on lightly floured board for 5- minutes, until smooth.
• 4. Grease bowl with 1 tsp. of oil. Put dough in & spin so top & bottom is greased. Cover with plastic wrap & let it raise until doubled. To test if doubled - poke with two fingers into dough, if the holes stay the dough has doubled.
• 5. Take out dough and divide in half. Knead each part about 2-minutes, shape into round ball & flatten with hands to about a 1" high -7 or 8" diameter loaf. Prick with fork deep into dough all over. Makes 2 pogacas (this should be done on a large cookie sheet that has been greased with shortening). Cover & let raise until double.
• 6. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 25 to 30 minutes. Tap bottom, if it sounds hollow its done. Grease top with a little shortening, let cool on rack.

SERBIAN "POGACHA" BREAD

Steps:

• Scald milk and add butter. Allow to cool to lukewarm. Add yeast and sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Measure 5 cups flour into work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add milk-yeast mixture, sour cream, oil, egg and salt. Mix well.
• Switch to dough hook and knead on medium-low for about 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Turn out into a large greased bowl. Flip dough over to grease both sides, cover and let rise until doubled.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Punch down dough and place in a 10-inch round greased pan with high sides (about 3 inches) or handshape into a 10-inch round and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Using a sharp knife or a "lame," slash top of dough three times. Some make an "X" on top. Bake about 1 hour or until instant-read thermometer registers 190 degrees. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.

POGACA (SERBIAN BREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• Add sugar oil and egg.
• Gradually stir in flour until combined and soft dough forms.
• Knead in bowl for 1 minute.
• Place dough in greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled.
• Roll on floured board into large, slightly flattened circle.
• Prick with fork all over.
• Brush top with oil or butter and let sit 20 minutes.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.