European Recipes :Finnish Recipes : Suomalaisruisleipa(Finnish Rye Bread)

* Exported from MasterCook *

                   SUOMALAISRUISLEIPA (FINNISH RYE BREAD)

Recipe By     :
Serving Size : 6    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Breads                           Ethnic

   Amount Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
    1 1/2   c            Beer, buttermilk, milk, or
                         -potato water
    2       tb           Butter or margerine
    1       t            Salt
    1       tb           Dry yeast
      1/2   c            Warm water
    1       tb           Sugar
    2       c            Dark rye flour or light rye
                         -flour or rye meal (rye
                         -flour with bran)
    3 1/2                To 4 cups unbleached white
                         -flour

   Will have a more or less sour taste, depending whether it is made with
   beer, buttermilk, potato water, or milk, in that order.

   Heat 1 1/2 cups liquid to lukewarm. Stir in the butter and salt. Set
   aside to cool.

   Dissolve the yeast in the warm water (a temperature comfortable on the
   inside of the wrist) with the sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes or until the
   yeast bubbles.

   Stir the yeast mixture into the cooled liquid. Add the rye flour and beat
   until smooth. Add the white flour, a cup at a time, stirring after each
   addition until enough is added to make a stiff dough. Dust a work surface
   with white flour. Form the dough into a rough ball, place it on the work
   surface, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rest for 15 minutes.
   Generously butter a large bowl or pot.

   Adding only as much flour as necessary to prevent sticking, knead the bread
   dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. (The gluten in rye is more fragile
   than in wheat. It needs a resting time to recuperate and reform and does
   not need as lengthy or vigorous a kneading). Form the dough into a smooth
   ball and place it in a buttered bowl, turning it to coat all sides with the
   butter. Cover it and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size,
   about 2 hours.

   Punch the dough down, gently knead it for one minute, and divide it into
   two parts. Form each half into a round loaf and place the loaves in two
   lightly buttered 9-inch round cake pans or on a large, buttered baking
   sheet. Press a hole through the center of each loaf to give it a
   traditional shape if you wish. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in
   size, about 1/2 hour.

   Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. BRush the loaves with water and gently
   puncture the surface all over with the tines of a fork, in a design if you
   wish.

   Bake for about 30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and sounds
   hollow when tapped on the bottom. While it is hot, brush it with butter to
   glaze, and then let it cool on a rack.

   Yields 2 round loaves.