Bobalki (Slovak Sweet Bread Balls) Recipe
Traditional Slovak bobalki are versatile Christmas Eve bread treats, delicious either sweet with poppy seeds and honey or savory with sauerkraut and onion.
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Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 F.
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In a saucepan, boil water, sugar, salt, and oil/butter; cool to lukewarm.
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Separately, dissolve yeast with sugar in warm water.
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Combine flour with the lukewarm water-sugar-oil mixture and the yeast mixture; knead for 7-10 minutes until smooth.
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Cover the dough and let it rise until doubled in size.
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Punch down the dough, then roll it 1/2- to 1-inch thick on a floured surface. Cut into pieces and roll into 1-inch balls.
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Arrange the dough balls touching on a parchment-lined sheet.
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Cover and let them rise again until nearly doubled.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned, then cool completely.
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Grind poppy seeds with a little water or milk.
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Break cooled bobalki balls apart into a colander. Pour boiling water over them to soften, then drain thoroughly.
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Combine the bobalki with warm honey and ground poppy seeds, then stir and serve.