GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE TSOUREKI RECIPE

Tsoureki is a traditional Greek sweet bread baked at Easter. It is impossible to find a gluten and dairy free version in a Greek bakery so I created an allergy-friendly tsoureki so you no longer have to miss out on this deliciously fragrant festive bread. Infused with mahlepi, mastiha, orange and lemon zest for stunning aroma and flavour,  it bakes just like a regular tsoureki minus the gluten and dairy!

Mahlepi and mastiha are two distinct aromatic spices synonymous with Greek Easter baking.  Mahlepi is made from the ground seeds of the mahaleb cherry and mastiha is a crystal resin derived from the mastic tree exclusive to the Greek island of Chios. A small amount of both sweet spices will go a long way in flavouring the bread and filling your house with the smell of Greek Easter. Mahlepi and mastiha can easily be found in any European grocer, deli or online.

The biggest challenge when baking tsoureki without gluten and dairy is achieving a light texture. Gluten is the protein that makes the dough light and fluffy so you need to try and recreate this texture with a dough that does not stretch like regular tsoureki dough. The stringy strands in regular tsoureki are actually strands of gluten so it is impossible to recreate the exact same stringiness without gluten. In this gluten free tsoureki recipe the texture of the dough is more like a soft sweet bread that is still pliable. If you just replace the flour in a regular tsoureki recipe with gluten free flour your bread will be dense and heavy but with a few tips and tricks you can make it softer and lighter –

1. Add baking powder to act as a second raising agent to the yeast. Baking powder will add a softness to the dough and help it ‘pop’ in the oven for a lighter texture versus yeast alone.
2. Add a small amount of xantham gum to help stretch the dough. A little goes a long way.
3. Rest the dough twice. Firstly for 2 hours in a greased bowl until it at least doubles in size and secondly after the dough is braided for another 1.5 hours.
4. Find the warmest spot in your home to rest the bread for a better rise. I look for a very sunny spot near a window and wrap the bowl tightly to trap the warm air. On a cold day preheat the oven to 50C, turn it off and rest the bowl inside the oven.
5. Do not dust extra flour on the sticky dough as this will toughen the bread. Gluten free tsoureki dough is wetter and stickier than regular dough so it is more challenging to work with. To make the soft sticky dough easier to handle after the first 2 hour rise, place the puffy dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
6. Use baking paper or cling wrap to handle the sticky dough. After the first rise divide the rested dough into three portions and work with one ball at a time.  Rub a little olive oil over each ball to help shape the dough with less stickiness. Greasing your hands with olive oil helps stop the dough from sticking to you. Very gently shape each ball of dough into a log using the baking paper. Roll the log in the paper to smooth the surface of the dough.
7. Be patient! Tsoureki requires patience and proper resting. Start the recipe in the morning so you have plenty of sunlight through the day to rest the dough and you are not tempted to rush through the process.

If you are finding the plait too fiddly an easier option is to shape the rested dough into one or two round  tsoureki loaves. This is the simplest option and shape. Brush with loaves with egg wash and sprinkle with almonds as you normally would.

If you have any remaining gluten free tsoureki bread after a couple of days, slice it and store it in the freezer for up to a month. Toasted tsoureki is delicious topped with jam, butter and cinnamon sugar or chocolate hazelnut spread. The options are endless!