Ethnic Recipes

I love ethnic foods. I love to try to make them....to say nothing of eating them. Here is one of my favorite recipes.

Please add yours.

Pulla (Finnish sweet bread)

1 cup milk, scalded
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2 cups flour
1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
2-2 1/3 cup flour

Cool scalded milk until it is warm. Dissolve yeast in it. Beat the eggs lightly, add to the milk. Add salt and 1 cup flour. Beat the dough well.

Add melted butter and 1 cup flour. Beat well. Add sugar, cardamom, and raisins, if used. Knead in the flour. Use 2 cups at first, and add more flour in very small portions, if necessary. The dough should feel soft and elastic to the hand, and never be too hard. Knead well until the dough makes smacking sounds when you pull out your knuckles, about 20 minutes.

On baking board, divide the dough into two parts. You may use one part for making small, round rolls. Divide the rest of the dough into three equal parts, roll them into long strips, and make a braid. Put the rolls adn the braidon lightly floured baking sheets. Cover with towels, and let rise in a warm place until well doubled in size. Since the bread is allowed to rise only once it should be done well, about 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the breads with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake rolls 10 - 15 minutes, or until golden. The braid will take 15 to 20 minutes. Take out from the oven, cover with a towel to let them soften, and cool.

Serve warm for breakfast with jam, or with coffee or for dessert with dessert soups. Freeze what you don't eat immediately, because it will dry up quickly, if not frozen. Warm the frozen pulla, wrapped in foil, in the oven.

Yield: 10 rolls and 1 braid