Armenian Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons lard
• 1 compressed yeast cake
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 12 cups flour, sifted
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, toasted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon cumin seed
• 1 tablespoon walnuts, chopped
• 1 tablespoon black pepper, coarsely ground

Recipe

• 1 scald the milk and stir in the butter and lard.
• 2 allow to cool to about 100°f, then crumble in the yeast and add the sugar and a few spoonfuls of warm water and leave in a warm place till frothy.
• 3 mix together the flour, sesame seeds, sunflower kernels and salt.
• 4 stir the yeast and milk mixture into the flour together with 2¾ cups of lukewarm water.
• 5 beat well and knead till smooth and silky.
• 6 leave to rise for about 45 minutes.
• 7 knead again and form into 3 large flat loaves.
• 8 lay the loaves on greased baking sheets and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
• 9 mix together the eggs, cheese, cumin, walnuts, and pepper and spread this thick paste over the loaves.
• 10 bake at 425° for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350° and bake for 30 minutes more or till the loaves are firm and golden and sound hollow when tapped.
• 11 cool on wire rack.