Polish Buttermilk Rye Bread Recipe

Polish buttermilk rye bread

The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 20 servings

It's the buttermilk in this recipe for Polish Buttermilk Rye Bread that gives it the tang usually associated with rye breads. It takes the labor and time out of creating a sour starter.
While white bread has its place in Polish cuisine, Poles are particularly fond of rye breads and black breads that are made with 100% rye flour and use no white flour to lighten the loaf.
Enjoy this hearty bread with soup, as toast or even in stuffing or sweet bread pudding. And here are Leftover Rye Bread Recipes.
Shortcut: Follow this Quick Tip for faster rising.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water (lukewarm)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant ​yeast (not rapid rise)
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (at room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup butter (melted)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups rye flour
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Polish buttermilk rye bread
    The Spruce
  2. In a large bowl or a bowl of a stand mixer, add all ingredients and mix well.

    Mix wet and dry ingredients
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  3. Knead on low 7 minutes in mixer or 10 minutes by hand.

    Knead dough
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  4. Transfer to a large greased bowl. Flip the dough to grease the bottom and cover with oiled plastic. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.

    Put dough in bowl and cover
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  5. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.

    Parchment on baking tray
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  6. Punch down dough and form into 2 oblong or round loaves. Place on prepared pan, cover with oiled plastic, and let rise until almost doubled.

    Punch down dough
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  7. Brush risen dough with egg whites for a shiny crust or plain water.

    Brush butter on dough
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  8. Make 4 diagonal shallow cuts (use a lame or razor blade) in the dough.

    Cut slices in dough
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  9. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until internal temperature on an instant-read thermometer registers 190 to 195 F.

    Bake bread
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  10. Cool on wire racks.

    Baked dough
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  11. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
73 Calories
4g Fat
8g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20
Amount per serving
Calories 73
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 394mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 2g
Calcium 42mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)