Spice Spirit Challah Recipe One Loaf Recipes

SEPHARDIC CHALLAH WITH WHOLE SPICES

Steps:

• If using, cover raisins in 2 cups/500 milliliters warm water and let plump for 30 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• In a skillet, toast 1 tablespoon sesame, the caraway and the anise or other seeds over moderate heat until fragrant, 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
• In a small bowl, combine yeast with 2 tablespoons warm water (you can use the soaking water from the raisins if handy). Let stand until thoroughly moistened, about 5 minutes.
• In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine flour with olive oil, honey, eggs (if using) and warm water (3/4 cup/180 milliliters if using eggs; 1 1/2 cups/360 milliliters if not).
• Mix at low speed until a very soft dough forms. If it is stiff, add warm water a tablespoon at a time. Add salt, yeast mixture and toasted seeds and mix at medium-low speed until the dough is supple and smooth, 10 minutes. Mix in raisins. Using oiled hands, transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a draft-free spot until the dough is doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Lightly oil 2 small cookie sheets and dust them with cornmeal. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and press to deflate. Cut the dough in half and let rest for 5 minutes. Roll each piece into an 18-inch-long rope and let rest for 5 minutes longer, then roll each rope into a 32-inch rope. Take 1 of the ropes and, starting from 1 end, form the dough into a coil; tuck the ends under the completed coil. Repeat with the remaining rope.
• Transfer each coil to a baking sheet and cover each loaf with a large inverted bowl. Let stand for 1 hour, until the loaves have nearly doubled in bulk. (The risen loaves can be frozen, wrapped, for up to 2 weeks; top and bake just before serving.)
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the egg wash over the loaves and let stand uncovered for 30 minutes. Brush with the egg wash once more and sprinkle with the reserved sesame seeds. Bake the loaves side-by-side in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, until they're golden and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Transfer the loaves to racks and let cool before serving or slicing.

MY FAVORITE CHALLAH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
• 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.)
• 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.
• 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.
• Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.
• 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.
• Bake in middle of oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Cool loaves on a rack.

FAMOUS CHALLAH

Steps:

• First measure out all your ingredients.
• Now from the 1/2 of cup sugar take 1 tablespoon of the sugar & combine it with the yeast& warm water (you know you have the right temperature of warm water when it's the same temperature as the inside of your wrist).
• I let my mixer bowl which is metal (kitchen aid) sit in a hot water bath while the yeast dissolves, 10 minutes.
• After the yeast has dissolved (it's nice & foamy) add to it the rest of the sugar, salt & 3 1/2 cups flour.
• Mix well (I use the bread hook).
• Add egg (already beaten) & oil.
• Slowly start mixing in most of the remaining 3 1/2 cups of flour.
• The dough will become quite thick.
• When the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, turn it onto a floured surface& knead for approximately 10 minute.
• Add only enough additional flour to make dough manageable.
• Knead until dough has acquired a "life of its own"; it should be smooth & elastic, springing back when pressed lightly with your fingertip.
• Place dough into a large oiled bowl turning the dough once so its oiled on all sides.
• Cover with a damp towel & let rise in a warm place for 2 hours, punching down in 4-5 places every 20 minutes.
• Now, I always write down what time I started so I don't forget when the 2 hours are up & set a timer every 20 minutes. (In the summer I let the dough rise on my balcony & in the winter in front of my oven where something is always baking, turning it every time I punch down the dough).
• After the 2 hours, turn your dough onto your working surface.
• Now comes the forming part.
• For Shabbos I always make a 2 level braided challah which looks great & is really easy.
• Prepare your baking sheet lining it with parchment paper.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• First, take a large knife & cut the dough in half.
• Next, from each 1/2 now cut off a third & place the 2 thirds on the side.
• Now, from the first half (where you've removed a third) divide the remaining dough into approximately equal thirds.
• Roll each third out till its about 10-12 inches (I'm guessing I never measured it) & braid all 3 roll together pinching the top & bottom half together& turning them slightly under.
• Place on baking sheet.
• Repeat the same for other half.
• Now take the first third you removed earlier& divide in 3, braid just like you did before& place on top of the already braided challah.
• Repeat same for other third.
• Now let the challah rise for 1/2 an hour.
• After the challah has risen glaze with beaten egg & add mohn or sesame if you wish.
• Almost done!
• Put in preheated oven & let bake for exactly 25 minutes!
• Turn off oven & leave Challahs in for exactly another 10 minutes!
• Remove from oven.
• Enjoy--you deserve every compliment you get!

SPICE & SPIRIT CHALLAH RECIPE -- ONE LOAF RECIPE

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water in a large bowl. Add honey and let stand 2 minutes, until yeast foams. Add salt, oil, and eggs and mix well.
• Gradually add flour, mixing after each addition. As mixture gets stiff, use floured hands and begin kneading. Knead for 7 minutes, turning dough over often.
• Let rise in greased bowl until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour. Punch down dough.
• Divide dough into thirds, shape as desired, and place in greased pans or on baking sheet. Let rise again until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Brush with glaze( egg yolk and water). Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. .