The Lazarakia, these traditional little figures named after Lazarus, are one of the many Greek customs surrounding this grand Easter celebration. Although my grandma didn't usually make them, and it's not one of those traditions I remember from childhood, for several years now, every Lazarus Saturday, I make my own Lazarakia. They are small bread figures shaped like a person, with cloves for eyes and mouth, and their hands crossed, attempting to symbolically represent Lazarus. The dough is made without animal products and contains sweet and bold spices...
Easy
20 - 25 min
6 - 7 pcs
Ingredients
- 500 g strong flour (the flour we use to make brioche)
- 180 g/ ml lukewarm water
- 1 sachet dry yeast(8 - 10 g)
- 130 g brown sugar
- 100 ml seed oil or 50 ml seed oil and 50 ml olive oil
- 100 ml orange juice
- Ζest of 1 orange
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/5 tsp clove powder
- 1/4 tsp mastic powder
For the filling:
- 120 - 150 g nuts, raisins, cranberries or other dry fruits
How to
- In a bowl, add the water, yeast and sugar and mix with a hand whisk until dissolved. Wait for 10 min until the yeast is activated.
- Add the spices, mastic and olive oil and finally add the orange zest and juice.
- Mix the ingredients and continue with the flour.
- Knead until you get an elastic dough.
- Cover your dough and wait until it doubles in volume. The time always depends on the season and the temperature of your room. It usually takes at least an hour.
- Divide the dough into 130 - 150 g pieces, roll them out, add the filling and form the head and the body, enclosing the filling in them.
- Make two cords of dough for the hands, cross them through the back and bring them forward in an X shape.
- Use whole cloves for the eyes and mouth and place lazarakia on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Allow them to rest for about 30 min and bake in a preheated oven (set to fan) at 340 oF - 170 oC for 20 - 25 min, depending on their size.
- Let them cool on a wire rack and your greek lazarakia are ready!!!
Note from Greek jar:
If you prefer smaller lazarakia, divide the dough into 80 - 100 g portions.
According to the traditional recipe, the filling consists of walnuts and raisins. If you'd rather not go by the book, we can add other nuts of our preference, cranberries or other dry fruits or even our favorite jam.
