Greek Easter Bread - Tsoureki

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, mahlab, and orange zest.

Add the melted butter, lightly beaten eggs, and warm milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until a sticky dough forms.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and divide it into three equal parts.

Roll each part into a long rope and braid them together.

Place the braided dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).

Beat together the egg and water for the egg wash. Brush the surface of the bread with the egg wash.

Bake the bread in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.

Let the bread cool on a wire rack before serving.

Prepare the dye: In separate pots, add water and the respective dye materials. Use red onion skins for red dye, turmeric for yellow dye, and spinach or parsley for green dye. You can adjust the amount of dye material based on your desired colour intensity. Optionally, add a splash of white vinegar to each pot to help intensify the colours. The eggs should be hard-boiled and peeled before dyeing.

Boil the dye: Bring each pot of dye mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. This allows the colour to develop fully.

Boil the eggs: While the dye is simmering, hard-boil the eggs in a separate pot of water. Once cooked, let them cool and peel off the shells.

Dye the eggs: Carefully place the peeled hard-boiled eggs into the pots with the dye mixtures. Let them simmer in the dye for at least 10-15 minutes, or until the desired colour intensity is achieved. For deeper colours, you can leave them in the dye for longer.

Remove and dry: Using a slotted spoon, remove the dyed eggs from the pots and place them on a paper towel to dry. Allow them to air dry completely before handling them further.

Use in Greek Easter bread: Once dry, you can use these beautifully dyed eggs to decorate and bake the Greek Easter bread above, according to your preferred presentation.