Turkish Pide

Baking bread has always been my passion. I love home baked bread knowing the hardwork that went into making something from scratch that smells wonderful in the oven. One of those are this lovely baked Turkish famous bread...Pide. Bread are a staple for Middle East just like rice for Asians. Almost all household in Turkey will have their basic Pide recepi hand down from their ancestors. Pide is an unsweetened,soft and fluffy bread serves along with savoury gravy or meat dish. The pungent flavor of nigella seeds and mild flavor of sesame seeds bursting on every bite. The method of baking a beautiful Pide are similar like any other bread but what i enjoyed baking them is the shaping and carving part of it.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 cup lukewarm milk
1/4 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp active yeast
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Topping

1 tsp nigella seeds
1 egg yolk
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp milk
1 tsp vegetable oil

Methods

Line a baking tray with parchment paper slightly dusted with flour. Keep aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine together milk,water,yeast and sugar and stir till yeast completely dissolved.

Add half of the flour,oil and salt. Mix to combine. Add remaining flour amd knead till the dough soft and smooth.

Place the dough in a greased bowl cover with cling form. Rest the dough for an hour on warm place to rise.

Transfer the dough onto a clean working surface dusted with flour. Punch the dough to remove air bubbles.

With your hands, flatten the dough to a round shaped dough. Place the dough onto a prepared baking tray. Use a blund knife to create line along the edges pf the dough. Make a criss cross lines on the surface of the dough. Cover the dough with clean kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes.

In a small bowl  combine egg yolk,oil and milk. Brush the mixture over the dough and sprinkle with sesame seeds and nigella seeds.

Bake on preheated oveb at 200'F for 22-25 minutes or till golden.

Remove from oven an cool on wire rack.

Slice and serve