Stir the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast together in a large bowl.
Add olive oil to the water and pour most of it into a well in the flour.
Stir with a wooden spoon to form a soft dough.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for ten minutes until smooth.
Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for one hour until doubled.
Knock back the dough on a work surface and knead for another five minutes.
Divide the dough into three equal pieces and roll into sausage shapes.
Plait the three pieces together and place on a floured baking tray.
Preheat the oven to 220°C.
Cover the loaf and let it rise in a warm place for 10 to 30 minutes.
Glaze the loaf with beaten egg and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
Bake the loaf for 10 to 15 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 190°C and bake for another 30 minutes.
Remove from oven once the loaf is golden and sounds hollow when tapped.