Walnut Potica Recipes

WALNUT POTICA

Steps:

• Place the eggs and yeast at room temperature at least half an hour before baking. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl (I prefer plastic bowls) to make it lighter and airier in texture. Mix gently to ensure both types of flour are well-integrated. Don't use a bowl that is cold to the touch, as it will interfere with the quality of your leavened dough. Yeast Mixture Crush the yeast into a small bowl, add one teaspoon of sugar, 4 tablespoons of lukewarm milk, and 1 tablespoon of sifted flour. Stir gently, cover the bowl with a dishcloth and allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, about 10 to 15 minutes. In cold weather, set the mixture in a warm place to expedite fermentation. Egg Yolk Mixture Beat the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla sugar, rum, lemon zest, and salt into a fluffy mixture before adding lukewarm milk to it. Melt the butter and allow it to cool so it's not too hot when mixed with the flour. Return to the bowl of sifted flour and form a depression in the center, then pour in the yeast mixture. Use a wooden spoon to slowly fold the flour from the edges into the yeast mixture. Now add the egg yolk mixture and stir again before putting in the melted butter. Please take 20 minutes to knead the ingredients until they form a soft, silky texture that doesn't stick to your hands or the bowl. Add some strong bread flour, if necessary. Then form a loaf, cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to rise to twice its original size-about an hour to an hour and a half. For best leavening results, keep the room temperature above 25°C/77°F. In the meantime, prepare the filling. First, grind the walnuts. Add vanilla and regular sugar to milk and bring everything to a boil for the sugar to dissolve. Then pour the milk over the ground walnuts. Melt the butter in a smaller pan and add it to the walnut mixture while still hot. Mix the walnut concoction well and allow it to cool before adding lemon zest and rum to it. Beat the egg white with sugar and a pinch of salt until stiff and mix it carefully into the walnut mixture. Prepare the work surface by laying a larger dishcloth over it, then sprinkle some strong bread flour evenly across it. Place the dough on the dishcloth and roll it out to form a square that is 1 finger-width thick (1 cm/0.4 inch). Once rolled, the dough should measure 55x55 cm (21x21 inches) in size, which is a perfect fit for a 27 cm (10 inches) potičnik. Spread the filling evenly to the edge of the stretched-out dough. Begin rolling up the dough from one side, gently pulling on the emerging tube to ensure the flat dough ahead is taut. Use fingers while rolling up the dough to squeeze out trapped air to prevent air bubbles from forming during baking. Pinch in the side edges as you go to avoid filling-free bites. Continue until the dough is rolled up. Butter the potičnik and use a kitchen cloth to determine the length of the dough to match the circumference of the potičnik.Feel free to cut away the edges as necessary to ensure a proper fit. Place the dough into the potičnik. Use a thin wooden stick to poke holes through the dough to facilitate air expulsion, then cover it with a dishcloth and set it in a warm place for another one-hour leavening session-Preheat the convention oven to 180°C/350°F. Perforate the dough again, put it in the oven and bake for one hour. If the crust turns yellow before the end of baking, cover the potica with baking paper; otherwise, keep the oven closed the entire time. When baked (check by inserting a knife blade into the dough-it's done when the blade is clean), take the mold out of the oven and immediately flip it over, so it slides out. Allow it to cool, preferably on a wooden surface, then sprinkle caster sugar over it.

POTICA (CROATIAN NUT ROLL)

Steps:

• Stir yeast into water.
• Mix butter, milk, sugar, and salt.
• Add egg yolks, yeast mixture and 2 cup flour.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Add remaining flour and turn dough out on a floured surface.
• Knead until smooth, elastic and does not stick to surface.
• Place in greased bowl and let rise 1 hour.
• Grease your baking pan.
• Filling: mix milk, salt, margarine and sugar.
• Heat slightly until margarine melts and sugar is dissolved.
• Add nuts then to stretch mixture you can fold in beaten egg whites.
• After it has risen, divide into 4 equal parts.
• Do not knead.
• Roll each piece to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with cooled filling.
• Roll jelly-roll style and place seam down in a greased pan.
• Let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake 40 - 45 minutes.

POTICA

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the flour in warm milk. Mix well, and let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with the remaining sugar. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the yeast mixture, remaining milk, 4 cups of flour and the salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Lightly grease one or two cookie sheets. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and roll Out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread each piece with melted butter, honey, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon. Roll each piece up like a jelly roll and pinch the ends. Place seam side down onto the prepared baking sheets. Let rise until double in volume. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown.