Poppy and sesame bars
We start this delicious recipe by preparing the necessary ingredients for the dough. In a large bowl, we add high-quality flour, dry yeast, fine salt, and sugar. It is important not to dilute the yeast, as we want it to act effectively when we add the water. We begin to pour in warm water, little by little, constantly mixing with a spatula or our hands, until the ingredients combine and we obtain a homogeneous dough.
Once the dough starts to gain consistency, we can begin to add the oil. Similarly, we add it gradually, continuing to knead. This process is essential to achieve an elastic and manageable dough. We knead patiently for about 10-15 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Once we are done, we cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, which can take between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the room temperature.
After the dough has risen, we take it out of the bowl and divide it into 8 equal portions. We roll each piece on a floured work surface, forming a rectangle. After that, we roll each rectangle lengthwise, so that we obtain evenly sized sticks. This is a step that requires a bit of attention to ensure that the sticks have a regular shape.
We prepare a large baking tray, which we line with parchment paper, and place the obtained sticks a small distance apart. We cover them again with a towel and let them rise for 30 minutes, to fill with air and become fluffy. In the meantime, we prepare a mixture of 50 ml of water and 1 teaspoon of flour, which we will use to brush the sticks. After they have risen, we brush each stick with this paste and sprinkle poppy seeds on 4 of them and sesame seeds on the other 4.
We preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and place the tray in the well-heated oven. We bake the sticks for 30 minutes, or until they become nicely browned. In the meantime, we can prepare a simple syrup made from water and sugar, which we will use to give them a glossy appearance and a sweet taste. After we take the tray out of the oven, we brush the hot sticks with the syrup, and the aroma will fill the entire kitchen.
We let the sticks cool slightly before serving. They are delicious both warm and at room temperature, and the combination of poppy and sesame gives them an unmistakable taste. I assure you that these sticks will quickly become the favorites of family and friends, being ideal for a snack, a savory breakfast, or even to be served alongside a soup or a salad. Enjoy them with pleasure!
Ingredients: 500g flour, 7g dry yeast, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 50g sugar, 250ml warm water, 80ml oil. Additionally: 1 teaspoon flour + 50ml water, syrup from water with sugar, ground sesame.
