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Obwarzanek krakowski
Braided bread ring
Obwarzanek krakowski: Kraków's braided boiled-and-baked bread ring with poppy seed, sesame or salt
Blue street carts on almost every corner of Kraków's Old Town sell these twisted rings from dawn, and locals grab one on the way to the tram the way others grab a coffee. Each ring is made from two thin ropes of firm yeast dough twisted together, dipped briefly in boiling water and baked, which gives a shiny, slightly chewy crust and a dense, close crumb, somewhere between a bagel and a pretzel. Eat them on the day, plain or split with butter or a vegan spread, or toss stale ones into soup. Where most people go wrong is making the dough too soft: it should feel stiff and smooth, or the twist blurs in the water. Chef's tip: boil the rings only until they float, 30 to 40 seconds, then top them while still wet so the seeds stick.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp fine salt
- 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oilplus a little for the bowl
For boiling and topping
- 2 tbsp sugarfor the boiling water
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb strong white bread flour, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 ½ tsp fine salt in a large bowl. Pour in 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and bring everything together into a shaggy dough.
3 minStep 2: Knead on an unfloured worktop for 10 minutes, until the dough is stiff, smooth and springs back slowly when poked. It should feel firmer than ordinary bread dough.
10 minStep 3: Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and leave somewhere warm for 45–60 minutes, until it has grown by about half.
50 minStep 4: Divide into 16 equal pieces and roll each into a rope about 40 cm long. Twist two ropes together, then join the ends into a ring about 12 cm across, pinching firmly to seal. Set the 8 rings on a floured tray and rest for 15 minutes while you heat the oven to 425°F (400°F fan) and line two baking sheets.
20 minStep 5: Bring a wide pan of water to a rolling boil with 2 tbsp sugar. Lower in 2 rings at a time and boil for 30–40 seconds, until they float and the surface turns glossy. Lift out with a slotted spoon onto the lined sheets.
8 minStep 6: While the rings are still damp, scatter 2 tbsp poppy seeds over a third, 2 tbsp sesame seeds over another third and 1 tsp coarse sea salt over the rest, pressing lightly so the toppings stick.
2 minStep 7: Bake for 18–22 minutes, swapping the trays halfway, until deep golden and the base sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a rack for at least 10 minutes before eating.
22 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does obwarzanek krakowski take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 95 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of strong white bread flour?
- Plain flour, same amount (the dough will be softer and rise a little less).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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