Water Challah I Food

WATER CHALLAH

Steps:

• Proof yeast by taking 3 cups of luke warm (should feel pleasantly warm on wrist and be about 105-110F; if too hot it will kill the yeast) in a 4 or more cup measuring cup and add 4 Tbs. of instant yeast and 2 Tbs. of sugar. Mix a little. When it reaches the top of the 4 cup mark it is done.
• Meanwhile mix bread flour and salt. [For Rosh Hashannah I add the anise seeds.] Add oil and proofed yeast and water. Knead until smooth, adding flour if dough is too sticky or warm water if too stiff.
• Oil a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl, turning once to coat. Cover loosely with a damp towel and allow to rise until doubled (time depends upon warmth of house but with this much yeast maybe as little as 30 minutes to 1 hour).
• When doubled punch down, knead gently folding over. [Now is a good time to separate the challah for the bracha.] Divide into halves, quarters, or eighths depending on size of loaf or smaller for rolls. Shape in braids, discs, rounds, etc. as preferred. Place on greased cookie sheets or whatever shape pan preferred. Cover loosely with towel and allow to rise another hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush each loaf with beaten egg if desired. [If using discs for Rosh Hashannah: use a sharp blade to cut a tic-tac-toe grid on each disc.] Sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove and cool on racks.

WATER CHALLAH I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 2 cups of water, then let sit for 15 minutes until frothy. In the meantime, whisk flour and salt to combine. Gradually add the flour and salt mixture to the yeast, about ½ cup at a time, constantly mixing as you add. Once too dense to stir, knead by hand just until gathered into a ball. The dough should be moist and soft, so if it's too hard at this point, add ½ cup of warm water. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured working surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, adding more flour to prevent sticking, until the dough stiffs up a bit, but is still elastic.
• Place the dough in a bowl greased with olive oil, turning it over, so it is oiled all over. Cover with cling film and keep in a warm place for about 1½ hours until doubled in size. Punch the dough with your fist to deflate it, then cover the bowl with cling film again, and place it in a warm place, but this time for 45 minutes, until doubled in size.
• Once 45 minutes have passed, place the dough onto a floured working surface Divide the dough in half, then divide each half into three pieces. Form the pieces of dough into 12-15-inch long strands. Braid two three-strand challah loaves.
• Place the loaves on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Let them sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to rise.
• In the meantime, put the oven rack in the middle position, and set the oven to preheat to 500°F.
• Bake for 20 minutes, then lower the temperature to 400°F and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
• Place the baked challah loaves on the wire rack to cool, then serve.

CHALLAH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the oil, sugar, salt, eggs and 4 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Divide each portion into thirds. Shape each piece into a 15-in. rope. , Place 3 ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. Beat egg and cold water; brush over braids. Sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired. Bake until golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

WATER CHALLAH

Steps:

• Crumble the yeast into the water, add sugar, and let bubble. Add flour. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients and knead to a soft dough. The dough has to be kneaded very well. Even if it seems like too much flour, keep kneading until it is all incorporated. Let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Separate challah and braid (the dough shouldn't need extra flour) into pans. Once braided, let the challos rise 1 1/2 to 2 hours (for light, airy texture). Preheat oven to 250. Brush challos with egg and place in oven.
• After 10 minutes, raise oven temperature to 450 for 10 minutes, then lower to 350 and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from pans onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 for an additional 10 minutes.

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!