I saw a recipe for something called “Iranian sweet bread” the other day, also known as “shirmal.” Sounded interesting, and I am always up for a baking adventure. It looked pretty simple, no fancy stuff, just regular baking ingredients.
First, I gathered all the ingredients I needed. I made sure I had plenty of flour, some sugar, yeast, you know, the usual suspects. I also grabbed some milk and butter.
I started by mixing the dry ingredients in a big bowl. I tossed in the flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Then I activated the yeast with a bit of warm water and sugar. Once it got all bubbly, I poured it into the dry mix along with the milk.
I melted the butter and added that in too. Then came the fun part – kneading! I got my hands in there and kneaded the dough until it became smooth and elastic. It took a bit of elbow grease, but it was worth it.
After the dough was ready, I covered the bowl with a cloth and let it rest in a warm place. I waited for about an hour, letting the dough rise. It doubled in size.
Next, I punched down the dough and divided it into smaller portions. I rolled each portion into a flat circle, like a small pizza. I brushed them with a little melted butter and sprinkled some sugar on top.
- I preheated my oven.
- Then carefully placed them into the oven.
- I baked them for about 15-20 minutes, until they turned golden brown.
Baking Time
The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven was amazing! Once they were done, I took them out and let them cool a bit.
This Iranian sweet bread turned out pretty good! It was soft, slightly sweet, and perfect with a cup of tea. I even tried it with some kebab, and it was a hit. It is quite versatile as you can eat it with vegetarian dishes. It is a simple recipe and doesn’t require a long resting time. I might try adding some different flavors next time, maybe some cardamom or saffron. Baking is always a fun experiment, isn’t it?
