Covrigi (Romanian Baked Bread Rings)
In short: Golden Romanian bread rings with a chewy inside and a lightly crisp crust, topped with sesame, poppy seeds and coarse salt, a favorite street snack. It takes about 48 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Resting
- 1 h 20 min
- Total
- 48 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 200 kcal
A covrig, the ring-shaped bread sold from carts and bakery windows all over Romania, is the snack people grab on the way to school or work. The crust is golden and slightly crisp, the inside soft and chewy, and the top is scattered with sesame, poppy seeds or coarse salt. Home-baked covrigi are easy to make, cheaper than bakery ones and best eaten within hours of leaving the oven.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and oil and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and firm. Cover and let rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and line two trays with baking paper.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces of about 65 g (2.3 oz). Roll each into a rope about 35 cm (14 in) long, tapering the ends slightly.
- Bring the ends of each rope together to form a ring, overlap them by 2 cm (3/4 in) and press firmly to seal. Set the rings on the trays with space between them.
- Cover loosely and rest for 20 minutes, until slightly puffy. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame, poppy seeds and coarse salt.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, swapping the trays halfway, until deep golden. Cool on a rack. They are best the same day, while the crust is crisp.
Tips
- For a chewier, shinier crust like a pretzel, dip each ring for 20 seconds in simmering water with 1 tbsp baking soda before topping and baking.
- For cheese covrigi, press 50 g (1/2 cup) grated cheese onto the egg-washed rings before baking. For a vegan version, brush with water instead of egg.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between covrigi and pretzels?
Covrigi are plainer. They are a simple yeast dough shaped into rings and baked, with no lye or baking-soda bath. The result is softer and less dark than a pretzel.
Can I freeze covrigi?
Yes. Freeze the cooled rings in a bag for up to 2 months. Refresh them in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 8 minutes to bring back the crisp crust.
What toppings are traditional?
Sesame, poppy seeds and coarse salt are the usual ones. Some bakeries also sell covrigi plain or topped with grated cheese.
How long does it take to make Covrigi (Romanian Baked Bread Rings)?
About 48 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 18 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Covrigi (Romanian Baked Bread Rings)?
About 200 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 33 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 200 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 390 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
