Polish Cooking: Christmas Poppy Seed Roll (Makowiec)

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZOlfQURnMo

Hello there and welcome to my sort of weekly article on reddit regarding Polish cuisine. This time, we're embracing Christmas. We'll be doing poppy seed roll, or as we call it: makowiec (which is roughly a "poppy cake"). I hope you'll like it and I hope that I didn't put this too late for you.

Also, don't be affraid about the length of the recipe. Most of it is waiting for the yeast to grow. It takes a lot of time, but it's damn worth it.

DOUGH

4 yolks

2 whole eggs

1 cup of sugar

0.5kg bleached flour

1 cup of milk

50g fresh yeast

vanilla sugar (or aroma)

saffron

FILLING

4 whites

250g poppy seeds

0.5 cup of sugar or honey

1 spoon of butter

~300g dried fruits and nuts

PREPARATION

These proportions make up for 2 rolls.

DOUGH

1) Prepare leaven out of milk, yeast and sugar, let it grow at least 10 minutes.

2) Separate the eggs

3) Liquefy butter

4) Sift the flour into a bowl, add 6 yolks, add flour, sugar, vanilla extract, and leaven. Mix thoroughly until it easily separates from your fingers. If it doesn't: add more flour.

5) Let it grow for at least an hour

FILLING

Prepare the poppy seeds:

Not minced:

1) Simmer them first for 20 minutes

2) Grind at least 2 times

3) Drain of any excessive water

Minced:

1) Soak them in boiling water for 10 minutes

2) Drain of the water carefully

The rest of the filling:

1) Soak the raisins in water and alcohol (1 shot glass of rum on one little bowl of raisins)

2) Chop the nuts into as small pieces as possible. Help yourself with blender, but don't overdo it

3) Add honey (or sugar), nuts and raisins into the poppy seed paste.

4) If it became soggy instead of quite solid add breadcrumbs or flour until it solidifies

5) Beat the egg whites out of 4 eggs (simply: not all)

6) Combine the poppy seed paste and beaten whites to get thick creamy filling

THE ROLL

1) Divide the dough into at least 2 pieces. They will form 2 cakes

2) Flatten the dough with a rolling pin. Make sure it is a bit longer than the length of your form. You can go for flatter dough to achieve the fancy pattern

3) Put the filling on top. Spread it evenly avoiding the edges

4) Roll it up from the longer edge.

5) Once all the filling is inside, grab the shorter edge and put it below the dough to ensure that nothing gets spilled

6) Insert the roll into a form that was either covered with butter or with butter and breadcrumbs

7) Spread the whites on top of the roll (it will give the lovely color after baking)

8) Let it grow for at least an hour

9) Put inside preheated oven at 180C for 40 minutes. Bake until golden brown

If you want, you can - instead of egg whites - put some frosting or cover with fancy food coloring.

Happy cooking and Merry Christmas!

bon appetit