Bejgli is a traditional Hungarian pastry that is often made during festive occasions, especially Christmas. It comes in 2 main varieties: poppy seed filling (mákos bejgli) and walnut filling (diós bejgli). Here's a recipe for making bejgli with walnut filling:
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
- 500 g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
- 250 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 120 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 240 ml (1 cup) milk, lukewarm
- 7 g (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- A pinch of salt
For the Filling:
- 300 g (3 cups) ground walnuts
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 240 ml (1 cup) milk
- 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Dough:
- Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm milk, and let it sit for a few minutes, until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, butter, egg yolks, and the yeast mixture.
- Mix the ingredients until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough back in the bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size (about 1–2 hours).
2. Prepare the Filling:
- In a saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, ground walnuts, vanilla extract, and lemon zest over medium heat.
- Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens to a spreadable consistency.
- Remove the mixture from heat, and let it cool.
3. Assemble the Bejgli:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Divide the dough in half. Roll out each portion into a rectangle on a floured surface.
- Spread half of the walnut filling evenly over one of the rectangles.
- Roll the dough into a log, sealing the edges.
- Repeat the process with the other half of the dough and the remaining filling.
- Place the rolled bejgli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30–40 minutes or until the bejgli is golden brown.
- Allow the bejgli to cool before slicing.
Your Christmas pastry is ready to be served!
Check out other Christmas recipes from all over Europe:
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