Russian Black Bread Recipe

The Bread Experience -- www.breadexperience.com

Try this Russian Black Bread recipe for a beautiful and flavorful loaf of dark rye bread.

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups warm water (100°F to 110°F)
2 envelopes Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened
chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon Fennel Seed
4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
5 cups rye flour
3/4 cup imported chopped or snipped pitted dates

Directions:

Makes: 2 round loaves

Place 1/2 cup warm water in large warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved. Add remaining water, butter, and next 6 ingredients. Slowly stir in 3 cups all-purpose flour; blend well. Stir in rye flour and enough remaining all-purpose flour to make soft dough. Remove dough to lightly floured surface. Cover; let rest 15 minutes. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 to 15 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Punch dough down. Remove dough to lightly floured surface. Knead in dates. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 5-inch ball. Place each ball in greased 8-inch round cake pan or on large greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until done. Remove from pans; let cool on wire racks.

Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
Serving size: 1 slice; 1 /24 of recipe
Serving weight: 2.6 ounces (74 g)
Calories 170; Total fat 3.5 g; Saturated fat 1 g;
Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 250 mg; Carbohydrates 33 g;
Dietary fiber 5 g (1.9 g / oz); Sugars 5 g; Protein 4 g