Episode #51 – Today we are in Toronto, Canada making Ciamella an Italian bagel with Nonna Paolone’s baby sister and my aunt Zia Nicky. #Ciamella is a delicious braided bread with Anise seed. It’s Italian version of a bagel. It’s great to eat with cheese, sardines and or dip in wine. My Zia Nicky makes it the best. She makes it all year round because her kids especially her grandkids love it. Zia Nicky likes to make extra so she can store in the freezer so whenever her kids or grandkids want some they can easily take it out of the freezer and put it in the oven to defrost, heat up and eat. One important ingredient that both Nonna and Zia Nicky always adds to their recipes is cooking with their hearts. So, be sure when you make this you do it with all your heart. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS:
– 1 ½ teaspoon of Yeast
– 8 Cups of Flour
– Sugar
– Salt
– Anais Seed
– Start with 1 Liter of Lukewarm Water
Let the dough raise for 2 to 3 hours. Then make into braided bagel (watch video for instructions). Place in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes turning over after 2 minutes. Then place into oven at 400 Degrees and let cook for 35 to 45 minutes flipping it over after 20 minutes. The Ciamella is done once both sides are golden brown.
*** It’s very important that once they come out of the oven you must wrap it in tightly in a blanket so they can stay soft. That is the trick for them to staying soft and not turning hard. Once they cool down then you can eat them or you can put them in a freezer zip lock bag and place them in the freezer and whenever you want to eat a Ciamella you either place them in the oven to defrost and heat up or place it in the microwave to defrost and heat up and you can eat them.