Here is a very recipe to make a wonderful bread that has a subtle anise taste.
For 8 small breads:
17.5 ounce (500g) of white flour
1 tablespoon of salt
3/4 tablespoon of sugar
2 tablespoons of anise seeds
1/2 ounce of dry yeast
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
0.8 cup of lukewarm water
The first thing to do is to grind the anise seeds.
To grind seeds, I use a coffee grinder.
Mix all the ingredients and knead until firm. I have a bread machine and use the setting to only knead and rise as I will cook the bread in the oven.
Let the dough rise for 1h30.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. At the same time, make 8 even portions of the dough and lay them on a cooking sheet or aluminum foil, making sure you either grease it or put some flour to prevent the bread to stick.
In a small ball, make an egg wash by cracking an egg at room temperature and whisking it until the yolk is incorporated in the white.
With a knife, make a X on top of each bread so they open while cooking.
Then brush each bread with the egg wash.
Rest for 25 more minutes; the bread will rise again.
Put the bread in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden.
Et voila!
Bon appetit!
