Pogacha-Style Soft Chewy Balkan Bread

Name: Pogacha-Style Soft Chewy Balkan Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 2.5 tsp Active Dry Yeast; 2 cups Bread Flour; 0.67 cup Milk; 0.25 cup Olive Oil; 0.5 tsp Salt; 0.33 cup Water

Breakfast 🍳Side Dish 🥗Snack 🍿 Low-Sodium Vegetarian 🥦Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Pescatarian 🐟

Pogacha-Style Soft Chewy Balkan Bread bakes into tender, springy rolls with thin, crackly golden tops and a rich hint of olive oil. The dough’s gentle sweetness and airy crumb make it perfect alongside hearty stews, grilled meats, or a simple cheese plate. Serve warm for dinner or as a comforting snack with butter or ajvar.

Prep15 mins
Cook20 mins
Serves5
DifficultyEasy

1

Combine the milk and water in a pot over low heat. Warm, stirring constantly, until an instant-read thermometer in the pot reads 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Remove from the heat. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Pour the mixture into a cup or other cylindrical glass; sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it sit until the yeast is frothy and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
2

Stir the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until a sticky dough forms.
3

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead quickly for 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball. Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the dough; toss it around the bowl a few times to coat evenly with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4

Return the dough to the work surface and punch it down. Lightly oil your hands with a little olive oil and knead again for 1 minute. Divide into 5 balls. Flatten the balls into thick rectangles. Place the rectangles of dough on a greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with a thin coat of olive oil. Let rest for 20 minutes.
5

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while the dough rests.
6

Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. Switch to the broil setting until the tops of the rolls turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from the baking sheet and allow to cool completely. Cut the rolls in half lengthwise.