Thursday 14 November 2019

Žerbo kocke - Gerbeaud squares (Hungarian dessert)

Žerbo kocke me vrate u detinjstvo, svaki put kada ih napravim. 

Potopiti kocku svežeg kvasca (40g) u 200ml mlakog mleka i dodati 6 kašika šećera. Kada se kvasac istopi, dodati 740g brašna, 340g masti, kašičicu sode bikarbone i 2 žumanca, pa od ovih sastojaka rukom umesiti glatko testo. Testo podeliti na 3 ili 4 dela, u zavisnosti od toga da li više volite tanje ili deblje korice. Ja više volim tanje korice, mada je teže razviti ih oklagijom. Loptice pokriti providnom folijom i ostaviti da "odmore" bar 15 minuta u frižideru. Dok testo stoji, napravite fil tako što ćete izmešati 300g mlevenih oraha sa 300g šećera (a nećete promašiti ni ako "pojačate" količinu fila -  400g oraha i 400g šećera).

Radnu površinu posuti brašnom, oklagiju takođe, pa razviti koru na veličinu pleha (tzv. veliki pleh od rerne - oko 30x40cm). Тrik da lakše rastanjite koricu je da testo postavite između dva lista papira za pečenje. Na jednom listu olovkom iscrtajte okvir pleha, pa kada testo malo pobegne preko ivice, vratite ga rukom i nastavite... Da olovka ne bi obojila testo okrenite iscrtanu stranu "ka spolja".  Koru položiti na dno podmazanog pleha, premazati je džemom od kajsija ili šipka i posuti smesom od oraha i šećera. Sa džemom ne treba preterivati, ali je potrebno da kora ipak lepo bude pokrivena slojem džema.
Dalje nastavite naizmenično da ređate koricu, džem, orahe... i završite koricom. Složenu Žerbo pitu peći u prethodno zagrejanoj rerni, na oko 170°C, ali pazite da se ne prepeče! Kada je kolač pečen, potrebno je malo ga prohladiti i preliti glazurom od čokolade.

Najbolje je ostaviti kolač do sutradan, da bi se glazura lepo stegla, kolač ohladio. Seći na kocke ili pravougaonike, manje, veće, kako vam volja.

Glazuru napraviti tako što ćete na pari istopiti 200g čokolade, 150g putera, 6 kašika mleka i 3 kašike šećera u prahu. Sve ove sastojke mešati na pari da se dobije glatka ujednačena masa, pa toplom glazurom preliti kolač.

Napomene:

- Može mast da se zameni puterom, ali ne znam zbog čega bi? Uvek se setim kako je Džulija to lepo rekla "Fat gives things flavor".
- Volim da napravim okruglu Žerbo pitu, nekako je baš elegantna... U tom slučaju, pravi se pola mere i slaže se u pleh prečnika oko 28cm (dobro je da se skida obruč sa pleha, jer se onda kolač lako prenese na tacnu i sjajno izgleda kad se ceo iznese na sto). Možete da je pospete sušenim ružinim pupoljcima ili laticama, a podjednako je lepo kada kolač ukrasite svežim pupoljkom ruže ili nekim drugim jestivim cvećem ("dan i noć", divlje ljubičice, afričke ljubičice...).
- Osim što su savršenog ukusa, žerbo kocke su dobar izbor za razne prilike, i za slavlja, i za "svaki dan", i za piknik, izdašne su, čvrste su pa se lako seku i pakuju, ništa ne curi, ne smeta im ni malo viša temperatura jer nema krema koji bi smekšao ili se pokvario...

Sastojci: kocka kvasca (40g), 200ml+6 kašika mleka, 300g+6 kašika šećera, 740g brašna, 340g masti, 1 kašičica sode bikarbone, 2 žumanca, 300g oraha, 200g čokolade, 150g putera, 3 kašike šećera u prahu.


Gerbeaud squares (Hungarian dessert)

This is another traditional Hungarian dessert that takes me back to childhood, every time I make it. Dissolve a cube of fresh yeast (40g) in 200ml of warm milk and add 6 tablespoons of sugar. In a bowl put 740g of all-purpose flour, 340g of lard, a teaspoon of baking soda, 2 egg yolks and liquid yeast mixture. Knead the smooth dough by hand, form 3 or 4 balls - depending on whether you prefer thinner or thicker layers (I prefer thinner). Cover with clingfilm - let it rest for a minimum of 15 minutes in the fridge. Meanwhile, make a filling by mixing 300g of ground walnuts with 300g of sugar (it won't spoil anything if you "boost" the amount of filling - 400g of nuts and 400g of sugar).  

Sprinkle the work surface and the rolling pin with flour, roll first part of the dough to the size of the baking tray (this amount is for large baking tray - about 30x40cm). The easy way to form nice crust layers without breaking is to place the dough between two sheets of baking paper. Draw a pen shape on one sheet of paper (with a pencil), so when the dough escapes slightly over the edge, return it by hand and continue... Place the first dough layer on the bottom of the greased baking tray, spread apricot or rosehip jam over the dough, sprinkle with walnut and sugar mixture. Be generous with the jam, the crust needs to be nicely covered.

Repeat the steps - crust, jam, nuts... and finish with the crust. When done, preheat the oven at 170°C and bake a pie, but be careful not to over bake! Then cool it a little and top with chocolate glaze. Leave it in a cold place (but not in the fridge) until the next day. Cut into cubes or rectangles, smaller, larger, as you wish.

Make the glaze by heating on a double boiler 200g of dark chocolate, 150g of butter, 6 tablespoons of milk and 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Mix all these ingredients until smooth and well combined.

Notes:
- Lard can be replaced with butter, but I don't know why it should be? I always remember Julia saying it beautifully "Fat gives things flavor!".
- I like to make a round Gerbeaud pie, it's so elegant ... In that case, cut all the ingredients in half and take a 28cm round springform cake pan with a removable side (it's good to have side removed because you can easily transfer the dessert to the serving tray - it looks great on the table). You can decorate it with dried rosebuds or rose petals, and it's equally nice when you put a fresh rose or other edible flowers on the cake (viola flowers, wild violets, African violets ...).
- Gerbeaud squares are so gorgeous - besides the taste, it's a good choice for various occasions, celebrations, for "every day", picnics, it makes a big batch, they are firm and easy to cut and pack, nothing leaks, they are ok even when the temperature is a bit higher  because there is no cream to soften or spoil...

Ingredients: 1 cube of fresh yeast (40g), 200ml + 6 tablespoons milk, 300g + 6 tablespoons sugar, 740g flour, 340g lard, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 egg yolks, 300g walnuts, 200g dark chocolate, 150g butter, 3 tablespoons powdered sugar.