Chai Chorek, also known as Chai Churegi, is one of the traditional pastries of Zanjan. As part of exploring and introducing the traditional foods and sweets of Zanjan Province, we present this delightful treat.
Chai Choreki, also known as Nan Chai (Tea Bread), is a delicious and traditional Iranian pastry that is prepared using various recipes. This delightful treat is one of the classic and old-fashioned sweets of Zanjan. The name Chai Choreki comes from Turkish, meaning Tea Bread in Persian.
This pastry is typically served with hot beverages like tea and is a simple yet flavorful sweet that can be easily made at home. One of its great advantages is its long shelf life, making it a perfect homemade treat to store for extended periods.
🥐 2 eggs
🥐 230g sugar
🥐 ½ cup milk
🥐 4 cups white flour
🥐 1 tsp baking powder
🥐 1 tsp yeast
🥐 ½ tsp cardamom powder
🥐 2 tbsp rose water
🥐 Sesame seeds (as needed)
🥐 1 egg yolk (for brushing the top)
🥐 1 tbsp thick brewed saffron (for brushing the top)
In a mixing bowl, beat sugar, eggs, and cardamom powder together using a whisk until well combined.
Add milk, rose water, and oil, then mix until the ingredients form a smooth mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and yeast. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients while kneading.
Knead until a soft and non-sticky dough forms.
Lightly grease a plastic bag, place the dough inside, and let it rest for 1 hour.
After resting, take small portions of dough and shape them into oval pieces.
Roll out each piece to a thickness of 0.5 to 1 cm.
Place them on a greased and parchment-lined baking tray, keeping a 1 cm gap between each.
Brush the top with the egg yolk-saffron mixture and create vertical lines using a fork.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (374°F) and bake for 20 minutes.
Check if the pastries are fully baked, then remove them and allow them to cool completely.
Store them in an airtight container for up to one week.
✔ The dough does not require excessive kneading; over-kneading can make it oily.
✔ The dough should be soft but not sticky—if it's too sticky, add a little more flour.
✔ This pastry does not rise much, so resting the dough is mainly for consistency.
✔ Avoid rolling the dough too wide, as it expands during baking and may lose shape.
✔ This recipe makes about 12 pieces of tea bread.
Now, enjoy your homemade Chai Choreki with a warm cup of tea! ☕ 🍪
