MONGOLIAN SESAME BREAD RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water, sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, and yeast in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Let stand for 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Add 5 1/2 cups flour, about 1 cup at a time, to the yeast mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
• Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size. (Gently press 2 fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.)
• Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, shaping each portion into a 12-inch-long loaf. Place the loaves on a baking sheet sprinkled with 1/2 cup cornmeal. Lightly brush the loaves with cold water. Sprinkle evenly with 1/4 cup of sesame seeds.
• Place a shallow pan of boiling water on the bottom rack of cold oven. Place loaves on middle rack of oven. Set oven temperature to 400°. (Do not preheat oven.) Bake for 35 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together 2/3 cup warm water (154 grams), yeast and sugar. Let the mixture stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flours and salt. Stir in the yeast mixture and butter or canola. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover it with a dish towel. Let it rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough and knead it for 2 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Divide the dough into 6 equal balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a ball into an 8-inch circle. Brush with sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sesame seeds. Fold in all four sides of the circle to meet in the middle, forming a rectangle. Roll the dough again to 8 inches in diameter, then brush with sesame oil, fold in the sides again and roll to 8 inches. Brush the surface with additional sesame oil and transfer dough to a large greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Repeat with the remaining dough balls. (You may need to use several baking sheets, or bake in batches, keeping unrolled dough loosely covered with plastic wrap or a dish towel until ready to use.)
• Bake until golden and slightly puffed, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.