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Moroccan Anise Bread

Honey and sesame seeds come together in this bread, fragrant with anise and baked in the oven.

2 hr 40 min · Serves 2 · Takes some skill

Makes
2
loaves

Ingredients

Time
Prep 130 min · Cook 30 min · 160 min total
Difficulty
hard
  1. 1

    Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the water. Add the honey (or sugar) and let stand until foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes.

    10 min
  2. 2

    Add the remaining water, oil, anise, salt, and 2 cups of the flour to a large bowl. Gradually stir in the remaining flour until the mixture holds together.

  3. 3

    On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

  4. 4

    Punch down the dough and divide in half. Shape each piece into a ball, cover, and let rest for about 10 minutes.

    10 min
  5. 5

    Sprinkle a large baking sheet with cornmeal or fine semolina (or you can grease the baking sheet). Flatten each dough ball into a 6-inch round. Some cooks flute the outer edge, others leave it plain; it's your choice. Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheet, cover, and let.

  6. 6

    Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pierce the dough around the sides with the tines of a fork or a toothpick. Beat egg whites with water, and brush the tops of the loaves with the egg white mixture. Then lightly sprinkle the top of the loaf with the sesame seeds.

  7. 7

    Bake at 375° until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    30 min

Notes and swaps

Allergens
Not assessed yet. Check each ingredient if you have an allergy.

Community discussion

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