Narsai David made this spectacular wheat bread as part of The Crete Experiment during the 1997 Oldways symposium on the Island of Crete. “Magical Narsai” disappeared into the storerooms of the large restaurant kitchen used for the afternoon and reappeared wearing a baker’s hat and smiling like the Cheshire cat. He found mixing bowls, mixed grains and water and salt, and kneaded away happily. He presented the wonderful bread to us, saying, “This is bread my grandmother knew.”
2 cups warm water
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups bread flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
¾ cup trahana (soured cracked wheat, available at Greek markets; coarse cracked wheat or bulgur may be substituted)
3 tablespoons grape syrup or honey
¼ ounce (1 packet) active dry yeast
2 teaspoons sea salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Narsai David
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