Ingredients 1 1/2 packages active dry yeast (about 3 1/2 teaspoons) 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil, more for greasing bowl 5 large eggs 1 tablespoon salt 8 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (8 to 8) Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling
Instructions 1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water. 2. Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading.) 3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour. 4. To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Move the outside right strand over 2 strands. Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Take the outside left strand and move it over 2. Move second strand from the right over to the far left. Start over with the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between. 5. Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour. 6. If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking. Then dip your index finger in the egg wash, then into poppy or sesame seeds and then onto a mound of bread. Continue until bread is decorated with seeds. 7. Bake in middle of oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Cool loaves on a rack.
Description What can be better than a freshly baked challah?
Notes I was 82 years old before I made challah even though I always did a huge amount of baking. There is a certain thrill to making challah and I will do it on a regular basis now. It was delicious. I have to say that the picture is not of what I made but mine looked pretty good. I assume they will get prettier as I get practice.
Source Joan Nathan and the New York Times
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