Saaristolaisleipä

Saaristolaisleipä, also known as Archipelago bread, is a traditional Finnish rye bread with a hearty and dense texture.

Ingredients - Serves 12

In a large mixing bowl, combine the rye flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, and salt.
In a separate bowl, mix together the dark syrup and buttermilk until well combined.
Add the syrup and buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf.
Place the loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix together the water and caraway seeds.
Brush the top of the loaf with the caraway seed mixture.
Bake the bread in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing.