April 2012 Daring bakers challenge was hosted by Jason at Daily Condor. He challenge everyone to make one of two Armenian standards: nazook or nutmeg cake. I chose to make nazook. Nazook is layered yeasted dough pastry with a sweet filling. I really liked it, but be careful it is truly addictive.
RECIPE:
Pastry dough:
420 g flour
7 g active dry yeast
225 g sour cream
225 g softened butter
Filling:
210 g flour
340 g sugar
170 g softened butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Wash:
1 egg
Make the pastry dough:place the sifted flour into a large bowl. Add the dry yeast, and mix it in. Add the sour cream and the softened butter. Use your hands to work the dough. Continue to knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl or your hands. If it remains very sticky, add some flour, a little at a time. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 3-5 hours or overnight if you like.
Make the filling: mix the flour, sugar and the softened butter in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla extract. Mix the filling until it looks like clumpy, damp sand. Set aside.
Make nazook: preheat oven to moderate 175 C. Cut the refrigerated dough into quarters. Form one of the quarters into ball. Dust your working surface with a little flour. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle or oval. The dough should be thin, but not transparent. Spread 1/4 of the filling mixture across the rolled-out dough in an even layer. From one of the long sides, start slowly rolling the dough across until you have a long, thin loaf.Pat down the loaf with your palm and fingers so that it flattens out a bit. Apply your egg wash with a pastry brush. Cut the loaf into equally sized pieces. Put onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until the tops are a rich, golden brown. Allow to cool and enjoy.
Prinatable version
