Soft Caraway Seed Pastry Recipe: A Star of Tea Time

A recipe for "çörek otlu poğaça," or caraway seed pastries, emphasizes their appealing aroma and soft texture, making them a popular accompaniment to freshly brewed tea. The pastries are noted for retaining their softness for extended periods, allowing them to be enjoyed throughout the day.

The recipe details the necessary ingredients for both the dough and the topping. For the dough, it calls for warm milk, liquid oil, an egg (with the yolk reserved for the topping), instant yeast, sugar, salt, and flour. The topping requires an egg yolk and caraway seeds.

Preparation involves combining wet ingredients with yeast and sugar, then gradually adding flour to form a soft, non-sticky dough. After about 45 minutes of rising, the dough is divided into tangerine-sized portions, rolled, and placed on a baking sheet. A second rise of 15 minutes is followed by brushing with egg yolk and sprinkling with caraway seeds. The pastries are then baked at 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, and are best served after a brief rest.