KEY TOOLS/EQUIPMENT:
- Oven – preheat to 375°F
- Stand mixer with dough hook
- Digital kitchen scale
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 large glass bowl – lightly greased
- 1 small glass bowl
- Baking sheet
CHALLAH:
- Servings: 3
- Difficulty: Easy
INGREDIENTS: (All measurements are by weight except TBS and tsp.)
QUICK STARTER:
- 4 ½ oz all-purpose flour
- 8 oz water, room temperature
- 2 tsps instant or rapid-rise yeast
DOUGH:
- 14 ¾ oz all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ tsps salt
- 2 ⅜ oz sugar
- 1 ¾ oz vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs + 1 yolk, room temperature (save yolk for the glaze)
- All of the starter
GLAZE:
- 1 egg white (from above)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 TBS water, room temperature
- 2 tsps sesame seeds
DIRECTIONS:
STEP 1:
Starter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, water and yeast until all ingredients are well-blended. Let sit for 45 minutes.
STEP 2:
Dough: Whisk flour, yeast, and salt together in stand mixer bowl. Whisk water, oil, eggs and yolk, and sugar into the starter mixture until sugar is dissolved.
STEP 3:
Using dough hook on low speed, add starter mixture to flour mixture and mix for 2 minutes or until cohesive dough starts to form and no dry flour remains. Increase speed to medium-low and knead for 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic.
STEP 4:
Transfer dough to lightly floured counter and knead by hand using stretch and fold method for 30 seconds or until dough becomes smooth and forms into a round ball.
STEP 5:
Place dough seam side down in lightly greased large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until increased in size by half.
STEP 6:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over once or twice, to expel the carbon dioxide. Divide the dough into four pieces, and roll each into a snake about 18″ long.
STEP 7:
On the lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, braid a four-strand braid or fashion a simpler three-strand braid.
STEP 8:
In a small bowl, make the glaze by mixing together the reserved egg white, sugar, and water. Brush the loaf, reserving some for a second application.
STEP 9:
Cover the loaf with lightly greased plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until almost doubled in size. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 375°F.
STEP 10:
Brush the loaf with the remaining glaze (this will give the finished loaf a beautiful, shiny crust, as well as provide “glue” for the seeds), sprinkle with sesame seeds.