Houska is a type of braided bread typically made in a number of cuisines, including Czech and Polish cooking. Though different recipes may call for different amounts of ingredients, the dough for this bread is often made using scalded milk, sugar, butter, eggs, and yeast to produce bread that is fairly soft and light. Prior to baking, the dough is typically split into several pieces that are rolled out and braided together. Houska can be made in different ways, though the braided pieces are often stacked on each other, sometimes in spirals to create a conical or pyramidal shape.
Sometimes called braided bread, houska can be found in Czech, or Bohemian, and Polish cuisine and is often eaten at breakfast or for holidays and special occasions. While different ingredients can be used in the bread, such as raisins, nuts, and other dried fruits, the bread typically begins with somewhat sweet dough that uses yeast to rise. The dough often begins with milk that is scalded, which means the milk is brought to a boil, sometimes with some butter, and then allowed to cool.
Several eggs are typically used in houska dough, and some recipes call for a few whole eggs as well as just a yolk. The cooled, scalded milk is typically added to the beaten eggs, with the yeast. Some recipes may call for the yeast to be bloomed in warm water separately. A separate bowl of dry ingredients, such as flour, sugar, and salt is prepared and set aside. The wet mixture is then added to the dry ingredients and mixed together thoroughly to form the houska dough, though not so much that excess gluten is formed.
This houska dough is typically covered and allowed to rise for several hours. After rising, other ingredients such as nuts, dried fruit, and spices such as ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon zest can be added. Some recipes call for these to be added prior to rising, though this can also depend on the preferences of the baker.
The dough is then divided into several pieces, which are rolled out into thin ropes. Several of these ropes are then used to form braids of dough, which can be left straight or spiraled into a coil. These braids are then stacked on top of each other, and an egg-white wash is brushed over the dough. The houska is then baked until golden brown and served warm.
