Jewish Onion Bread Recipes

JEWISH ONION BREAD

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Stir together water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
• Stir together 2 1/2 cups flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl, then add yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons oil and stir until a dough forms. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, adding enough of remaining cup flour, a little at a time, as needed to prevent stickiness, until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Form dough into a ball and transfer to an oiled large bowl, turning to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Cook onions while dough rises:
• Cook onions in remaining tablespoon oil with remaining teaspoon salt in an 8- to 9-inch nonstick skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Cover surface of onions with a round of parchment or wax paper (or cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid) and cook onions, lifting parchment to stir frequently, until very soft and pale golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Shape and bake bread:
• Transfer dough to a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan and stretch dough, first by pulling with your hands, then by pressing your fingertips into dough and working outward from center, until dough fills pan. Prick dough all over at 1-inch intervals with a fork, leaving a 1-inch border all around sides, and cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap (oiled side down). Let dough rise slightly in draft-free place at warm room temperature, 30 minutes.
• While dough rises, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Gently brush dough with some egg wash, being careful not to deflate dough. Scatter onions evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border, then sprinkle with nigella seeds.
• Bake until top is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes. Lift bread from pan and transfer to a rack to cool slightly.
• Cut into roughly 3-inch squares before serving.
• *Available at specialty foods shops and Kalustyan's (800-352-3451).

RYE ONION BREAD

Steps:

• Grease a 9x5-in. loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cornmeal; set aside., In a large bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, rye flour, onion, sugar, caraway, salt and yeast. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Shape into a loaf. Place in prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Combine egg white and water; brush over loaf. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

ONION RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the bread maker pan in the order listed.
• Process on the whole wheat cycle.