A Chorag Recipe from the Holy Trinity Armenian Church Cookbook

5 years ago

Over the past few months, I’ve posted several recipes from the
“Armenian and Selected Favorite Recipes” cookbook published by Fresno’s Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church Trinity Guild Ladies.

Christine Datian, whose family attends that church, asked
if I’d share their chorag recipe with you.

How could I refuse?

After all, who can resist chorag?

Chorag shaped into loaves

Chorag

Makes 2-3 dozen pieces, depending on size – OR – shape into loaves as pictured

Ingredients:

2 sticks (or 1 cup) butter and 1 cup shortening, melted
together

1 small (8 oz.) can evaporated milk

1 small ( 8 oz.) can water

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 yeast cakes – or 2 (1/4 oz.) packets of active dry yeast dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water

5 eggs

8 kernels whole mahleb seeds, crushed (sold in Middle Eastern stores)

8 cups sifted flour

***

1 beaten egg for egg wash

Garnish with sesame seeds

Preparation:

In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter and
shortening, milk, water, sugar, salt, yeast, and eggs. Add the crushed mahleb.
Gradually add sifted flour and mix to form a soft dough.

Cover and let rise for two hours or until double in size.
Roll out and cut to desired shapes,or twist into braids, or large loaves.

Place on ungreased
baking sheets, spacing them to allow for expansion. Let rise again on the sheets
for about one hour.

***

Brush tops with egg wash; garnish each top with a
sprinkling of sesame seeds.

Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until golden brown.