Does anyone have a good recipe for prosforo greek Altar Bread?

Answer 1

Prosforo is the bread used in Greek Orthodox services. Like bread in earlier times, it is made with only the very basic ingredients: flour, yeast, water, and salt. Each loaf is stamped with a sfragida, a wooden seal carved with a design that contains a cross, symbols of the nine orders of heaven, the Virgin Mary, and Greek letters signifying “Jesus Christ Conquers” - IC, XC, NIKA

Ingredients:
6 cups flour (sifted)
2 cups warm water (110 degrees)
1 Prosforo Seal
1 teaspoon salt
2 cakes or packs of yeast for imprinting seal

Instructions:
Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add salt and flour and knead until smooth. Place in the bowl, cover, and let rise. When it doubles in size, knead again. Then divide dough in half and put in cake pans that have been floured only (no grease). Dip seal in flour and stamp bread firmly to leave a clean imprint. Use a toothpick to place a few small holes around the edge of the seal. Let rise again about 1 hour, then bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until light brown.

or

1 package of yeast
2 1/2 cups of tepid water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
7 cups of flour

Put yeast in water with the sugar. When yeast is dissolved (about ten minutes) add the salt and mix in half of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon. Mix the rest of the flour by hand until the dough is firm. Kneed until smooth (a good time to use for prayer). Divide the dough and place in two floured 8" or 9" pans. Press in seal. Cover pans and let rise. Make 5 or 6 pricks with a toothpick around outer edge of the seal's impression. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.


Prepare a list of names of Orthodox Christians who you would like commemorated in the service. Use first names only. On the left side, write "Living" at the top and list the names below. On the right side, write "Departed" and write the names of departed below. Bring the list and the bread to the Church before the start of Orthros (or the day before).

Answer 2

I won't swear as to how good this recipe is, but it seems to be a pretty common one.

Recipe

1/2 cup luke warm water
4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package dry yeast
1 cup water
sfrayitha (seal)

Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water with sugar and let rise until bubbly. Mix liquid ingredients. Slowly add 3 cups flour, while continuing to mix. Work the sticky dough until it forms a loose ball.

Turn out on a floured surface and add additional flour until a stiff dough is formed. Knead a few minutes. Make two balls, and place one on to of the other in a cake pan that has been floured, not greased. (The double layer represents the dual nature of Christ.) Press out to edge of pan. Sprinkle the top lightly with flour.

Place the sfrayitha in the center and press down as far as possible. Remove seal and make holes about an inch apart with a toothpick around the edge of the design. Cover the bread with a dry cloth, and let rise in a warm lace until double in size. Open the holes with a toothpick again.

Before baking make the sign of the cross over the bread and say the “Lords Prayer” and/or a short prayer for those for whom you are baking the bread. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes. Reduce oven to 250 degrees and bake another 30 minutes or until hollow when tapped.

(Please let me know how it turns out.)