Name: Sweet Yeast Bread (Chureck)
Cuisine: Iraqi
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ground mahleb, optional; ½ cup (80 ml) oil; or ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) butter; 2 eggs; ½ cup (125 ml) milk; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 10 cups (2½ lb/1.25 kg) bread/strong flour; 1 egg, beaten; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 cups (475 ml) milk; or one 12 oz/340 g can evaporated milk, diluted with enough water to make 2 cups; ¼ teaspoon saffron strands; About ¾ cup (2½ oz/75 g) Dry-toasted sesame seeds; 1 teaspoon vanilla essence; 1½ cups (12 oz/340 g) granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons dried yeast; 1 cup (250 ml) warm milk

Preparation info

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Delights from the Garden of Eden

By Nawal Nasrallah

Published 2019

About

Chureck is a slightly sweetened yeast pastry traditionally shaped like a wheel, about 12in/30.5cm across, with a crosslike double axis. Smaller flattish oval ones with no holes in them are stuffed with dates or cheese and parsley. Chureck is usually bought from specialized bakeries and enjoyed year-round. For its history and etymology, see ‘Chureck and Ancient Ishtar: Affinities’.