Tsoureki 4547920 219928411 2008-06-17T14:23:28Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{Mergefrom|Cheoreg|Talk:Tsoureki#Merge with Cheoreg|date=June 2008}} '''Tsoureki''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] τσουρέκι), '''çörek''' ([[Turkish language|Turkish]]), '''panarët''' ([[Arbëresh language|Arbërisht]]) or '''choreg''' ([[Armenian language|Armenian]] չորեկ) are a sweet bread in [[Greek cuisine|Greek]], [[Cuisine of Cyprus|Cypriot]], [[Arbëresh]] cuisine, [[Turkish cuisine|Turkish]], and [[Armenian cuisine]]. It is formed of braided strands of dough. [[Image:Tsoureki.jpg|thumb|Traditional Greek tsoureki.]] [[Image:Paskalya coregi.jpg|thumb|The Turkish version: çörek.]] [[Image:Panaret.jpg|thumb|The [[Albanian cuisine|Albanian]] panaret.]] Such rich [[brioche]]-like breads are also traditional in many other countries, such as [[Hungary]], the [[Czech Republic]]; badnji kruh in [[Croatian cuisine]]; colomba di pasquain in the [[Portuguese cuisine]]; [[king cake]] in [[French cuisine]] and [[American cuisine]], kulich in [[Russian cuisine]]; anise in [[Italian cuisine]], and [[challah]] in [[Jewish cuisine]]. ==Greek traditions== Rich [[brioche]]-like breads (often braided) are known by various different Greek names that represent three major holidays for [[Greeks]]: [[Easter]], [[Christmas]] and [[New Year's]]. ===Tsoureki / Lambropsomo/ Lambrokoulouras: Easter Bread=== Τσουρέκι / λαμπρόψωμο: symbolizing the resurrection of [[Christ]]. The Greek word Lambropsomo is a combination of two words: '''lambro''' (Greek: λαμπρό) which means '''"bright light"'''; and '''psomo''' (Greek: -ψωμο from ψωμί) which means [[bread]]: lambropsomo translates to '''shining-bread''' or the '''[[Epiphany (feeling)|epiphany]]-bread''', representing the light given to [[Christians]] by [[Christ]]'s resurrection and the passing over from what we are to what Risen Lord wants us to be: "partakers of divine nature". Another name for this is "Λαμπροκουλούρας" Lamprokoulouras, which means the same. This braided bread can be shaped either into a circle or into two large braids and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It is adorned with beautiful red [[Easter]] eggs and sometimes red rosebuds for decorations. The Easter eggs are dyed deep red to represent the blood of Christ, the eggs also represent new life and springtime. It is traditionally eaten during the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection Meal]]. After Orthodox Christians' fast, which lasts 40 days to represent Jesus' time in the wilderness and the solar year (amongst other things lasting a long time), the Easter feast has to begin slowly, with a light meal after the midnight Divine Liturgy on Saturday night. The fast is generally broken with [[magiritsa]], an offal-based soup flavored with avgolemono sauce; tsoureki, the fluffy, egg-laden Easter bread, salad and a bowl of red dyed eggs. Greeks have a custom when it comes to the eggs: they crack them one-to-one. Whosever egg remains intact, supposedly has good luck in the ensuing year. This bread recipe was traditionally prepared with an essence drawn from the seeds of Mediterranean wild cherries, called [[mahaleb|makhlepi]], (Greek: μαχλέπι), which makes the kitchen smell delicious. The [[kernel]]s of the makhlepi cherry spice are loved for specialties like tsoureki, but some people at times may elect to prepare this beautiful bread without the seed essence. Besides mahaleb kernels, the bread can be flavoured with [[mastic]], the resin from ''[[Pistacia]] lentiscus, var. [[Chios|chia]]'' which is used in Greek cuisine. In more recent years, vanilla-scented tsoureki has also become quite popular. Sometime tsoureki is used as gifts for special occasion, for instance, it can be given as an [[Easter]] gift from children to their [[godparents]]. ===Christopsomo: Christmas Bread=== Χριστόψωμο: is a Greek bread decorated with an early form of the Christian cross with ends that split and curl into circles. Sometimes initials, birth dates and ages are added to celebrate all occasions. It is a rich, round loaf scented with wine soaked [[figs]], [[anise]], [[orange (fruit)|orange]] and it sometimes contains [[Mastic|mastiihi]], a dried pine resin. The bread is sometimes served with honey on Christmas eve. Families leave pieces of bread on the table believing that [[Christ]] will come and eat them during the night. During the 40 days of fasting, special loaves of Christopsomo, which translates to ''Christ's Bread'', are prepared for the meals. The loaves are round and decorated with a cross, which people make symbols shaped in dough. It is considered a sacred tradition in [[Greek Orthodox]] homes, and the care with which it is made is said to ensure the well-being of the home in the year to come. Only the purest and most expensive ingredients are used. The bread is often decorated with pieces of dough formed into representations of the family's life. Traditionally on [[Christmas Eve]] every household would bake a Christopsomo and then decorated with engravings on the crust that represent aspects of the family's life and profession. In earlier times, Greek cooks baked large quantities of bread to last for 10 to 15 days, so baking just one or two loaves of Christopsomo the night before Christmas had special significance. The cook would start by crossing him/herself before starting the preparations, making this Christmas bread, which still is considered by many to be a sacred task, and great care is taken in its preparation. Raisins, nuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are just a few of the taste treats that some recipes use for this traditional loaf. ===Vasilopita: New Year's Bread=== The traditional New Year's Cake, [[Vasilopita]] (Βασιλόπιτα) is sometimes a tsoureki. ==See also== * [[Armenian cuisine]] * [[Albanian cuisine]] * [[Cuisine of Cyprus]] * [[Greek cuisine]] * [[Saint Basil]] * [[Turkish cuisine]] ==External links== *[http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cfm?TypeID=5&RecipeID=83 Vasilopita Bread Recipe] *[http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cfm?TypeID=5&RecipeID=79 Tsoureki Bread Recipe] *[http://www.akiskitchen.ca/recipes_cakes/vasilopeta/vasilopeta_1.html Vasilopita Recipe II] *[http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekbreadspitas/r/tsoureki.htm Tsoureki Recipe II] *[http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekbreadspitas/r/christopsomo.htm Christopsomo: Greek Christmas Bread] *[http://www.artisanbreadbaking.com/breads/tsoureki/tsoureki.htm Tsoureki recipe and photos of making it.] *[http://www.artisanbreadbaking.com/breads/christopsomo/christopsomo.htm Christopsomo recipe and photos of making it] [[Category:Yeast breads]] [[Category:Sweet breads]] [[Category:Easter food]] [[Category:Greek cuisine]] [[Category:Turkish cuisine]] [[Category:Cypriot cuisine]] [[Category:Turkish Cypriot cuisine]] [[es:Tsoureki]] [[tr:Çörek]]