Shabbat Challah

Shabbat Challah, One Loaf (last revised March 17, 2014)

In a bowl mix:

• 200 ml warm water
• 2 package of active dry yeast (yummy!)
• 1 pinch of sugar

Proof the yeast for 25 minutes! Yes, let the yeast eat! They will thank you for it later

Add to the bowl:

• 2 teaspoons of salt (10 ml)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (60ml)
• 1/6th cup of sugar (40 ml)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (2.5 ml) (WTF? Pepper?)

Fold in:

• 4 cups of flour (more or less to get the right consistency of dough.)

Now it's dough time:

1. Knead like crazy until you drop (5-15 minutes)
2. Cover with a wet towel and wait 45-60 minutes
3. Bang down
4. Knead some more. It's fun!
5. Braid

Apply the egg wash:

• 1 egg + 1 yolk
• 1 tablespoon water

1. Give one coating.
2. Wait 10 minutes.
3. Give a second coating.

What to put on top of the coating? Here are some ideas:

• sesame seeds
• cracked pepper
• poppy seeds

Let rise for 45-60 minutes

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 F

Note: if you want to knead in a machine, be sure to use a Braun or a Bosch mixer, with a bottom hook, rather than a Kitchen-aid with a top hook. You will break your Kitchen-aid after a few months because the gear box has a plastic cover (even though it has metal gears).