Black Russian Pumpernickel Bread Mix

• What makes black Russian pumpernickel bread black? It's the dark rye flour. Wheat doesn't grow well in the subarctic. This has some wheat flour but also dark rye flour and dark rye meal.  The Russians are rightfully proud of their bread.
• Is black Russian bread healthier? The Russians believed that their bread made them sturdier, healthier people. It has 30% more iron and 50% more magnesium and potassium.
• What does it taste like? You can taste the rye. It is definitely a pumpernickel, but I would call it a light rye.
• Is it a crusty bread? It's crustier than a store bought bread but not with a heavy crust like a European sourdough.
• What about the crumb? It's soft and moist and, of course, dark.
• Can you toast it? I do. It makes a really fine, crusty toast. I've put jam and jelly on it, but it's perfect with honey.  We carry a star thistle honey, a dark honey that is perfect.
• How does it compare to a big city deli? Perfect. Authentic. There is a big city restaurant chain; this is better.
• So, is this good for sandwiches? It was meant for sandwiches. You can do anything you can in a deli with this. Rueben sandwiches are perfect on black Russian.

If you want to impress your friends, make meat and cheese sandwiches on this bread.

This is one of our most popular breads—on Amazon, it was our most popular. It's real bread, with a little substance. This is the bread I want if I'm looking for a meat sandwich.

Put this on your bucket list. It's an experience you don't want to miss.

Look what you can make with this extraordinary bread:

A Grilled Reuben Sandwich

This black Russian pumpernickel bread is unique. It has a complex flavor--rye flour, rye meal, and ground caraway.  But a Rueben sandwich can match it, balancing flavor against flavor with sour kraut, corned beef, swiss cheese, and a touch of Thousand Island dressing. That's a lot of flavor in a sandwich. But it works.

If you like strong flavors, you can pile them on, but in a balance, this sandwich is for you.  The combination of flavors is fantastic. Give it a try.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of bread, thickly sliced
• Thousand Island salad dressing
• Swiss cheese, very thinly sliced
• Deli-style corned beef, thinly sliced
• sauerkraut
• olive oil or melted butter

Directions:

Spread one side of each slice of bread with the Thousand Island dressing.  Place a layer of cheese on one slice of bread over the dressing, then corned beef, then sauerkraut, and then another layer of cheese.  Top with another slice of bread.  Brush the outside of the sandwich with olive oil or melted butter.

Cook on the heated grill pan or griddle, with the cheese side down and topped with a panini press until it's crisp and crunchy.  If you are not using a panini press, turn the sandwich after one side is cooked.

Baker’s note:  The cheese is placed next to the bread so that it will melt easily while grilling. 

His and hers burgers: A Salsa Bread Burger and a Black Russian Burger

How to Make Homemade Hamburger Buns

You can make hamburger buns out of any bread mix.  We have nearly a hundred choices.  All of a sudden, burgers aren't ordinary. Explore and choose what you want. Don't get stuck in a rut.  Switch to something else. 

And homemade bread is much, much better than store buns.  And they're not hard to make.

A large bread mix will make 8 to 10 buns.  Freeze any leftovers and thaw them on the grill.

1. Make the dough according to the package instructions. If you're mixing the dough in a bread machine, cycle 8 is the program for dough on most machines.
2. Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, divide the dough into 8-10 equal pieces. 
3. Form each piece into a ball by pulling the dough around the center and pinching the seam at the bottom of the roll. 
4. Place each ball of dough onto a greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using the back of your hand, flatten each ball into a disc. Because the dough has a tendency to spring back, repeat this process after a few minutes. 
5. Let these buns rise covered (preferably in a proofing bag) in a warm area until they double in size. If you have a cool kitchen, it will take an hour or more. When they have risen, bubbles begin to form under the dough skin. If blisters form, pop them with the point of a knife and hurry them to the oven.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes until the tops are golden. 
7. Remove the buns from the baking sheet immediately, and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice them in half, and now you’re ready to assemble some beautiful burgers!

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