Back in the spring of 2006, I was a part of a group tour to Turkey and Greece. And very fortunately, our time there coincided with the Greek Orthodox Easter. In Greece, as in many Mediterranean cultures, Easter preparations begin on Holy Thursday with meaningful rituals, including dying eggs in red only–symbolizing rebirth, renewal, and the blood of Christ. These same eggs are often used as decoration for the popular Greek Easter bread known as tsoureki, which is only one of many Easter breads and baked goods we encountered on our tour. In fact, you’ll find similar breads throughout the region to celebrate the holiday, like the Italian version that’s seasoned with citrus zest rather than anise and sesame.
What is Tsoureki Bread?
Tsoureki, Greek Easter bread, is a sweeter brioche-like bread that is enriched with eggs and butter–ingredients that are forbidden during the 48-day long Lenten season. Traditionally, Greek Easter bread recipes, depend on flavoring from ingredients like mastic and mahleb, which are mostly accessible through the internet or Middle Eastern grocers. I surveyed several recipes to come up with an easy, more accessible Greek Easter bread recipe. And for flavoring, I borrowed a bit of an Egyptian twist by adding anise seed, which is actually not too foreign to Greek baking. Some recipes also use fennel seed.
Traditions & Greek Easter Bread
As in many parts of the Mediterranean, Greek Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter with a special midnight mass. A festive family dinner (or super early breakfast, if you will) follows. The star is typically meat; and many will serve a popular soup called magiritsa, which is made from the organs of the lamb. The Hinarsises, my friends who supply our Greek extra virgin olive oil, confirmed that Greek Easter bread makes it’s appearance on Easter Sunday. It’s typically served following lunch– a big feast in which copious amounts of lamb are served. And of course, red-dyed eggs are aplenty. As family members crack their eggs against each other in a playful but meaningful manner, one greets the other, “Christos Anesti” (meaning “Christ has risen”). The response, “Alithos Anesti” (meaning “Indeed, he did!”)
How to Serve It?
Today, Tsoureki is so popular that it’s mass produced, packaged, and sold and served almost throughout the year in Greece. You may be sitting here going, I’m not Greek! But there really is no wrong way to serve and enjoy this Greek Easter Bread recipe. For my family, we will enjoy it for a simple breakfast with more boiled eggs, and feta, or honey.
Watch the Video for How to Make Greek Easter Bread:
Try these delicious recipes: 4.6 from 14 reviews Challah Bread Greek Orange Honey Cake with Pistachios Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Greek Roasted Potatoes
