The challah, the original recipe for Jewish bread

The challah is a soft Jewish braid-shaped brioche, excellent to be consumed in both savory and sweet versions!

Challah is a typical product of the Jewish religion , a soft bread with a twisted shape that can be easily prepared by hand. Excellent when paired with meat or vegetable main courses, or consumed in the sweeter version.

Similar to brioche bread, this bread is prepared to celebrate the Shabbat , or the holiday of rest that is celebrated from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. During the prayer the challah is blessed with the wine and then usually accompanied by the meat . According to the Jewish tradition it is not possible to replace the oil of the original recipe with butter or yogurt, to avoid mixing the animal derivatives with the meat which is accompanied by the Jewish bread.

Preparation of the recipe of the Challah

1. Take a bowl and mix 100 g of flour with yeast and water, and let it rise for an hour until bubbles form.
2. Add the remaining flour with the sugar and mix. Then add an egg, oil, salt, and mix.
3. When you get a smooth and non-sticky dough, form a round dough and let it rise for 3 hours .
4. Take the dough and transfer it to a floured work surface. Divide into four parts and form sausages to be joined with a pinch at their ends.
5. Start creating the braid : take the last flap on the right and place it after two flaps to the left. Then take the flap on the left and place it after the two flaps to the right.
6. Finally, take the second flap starting from the left and place it after two flaps to the right. Repeat the process until the end of the dough.
7. Transfer the braid to a baking sheet with parchment paper. Let it rise at 28 ° for about an hour.
8. Brush the surface of the braid with the remaining egg yolk and sprinkle a handful of sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated convection oven at 170 ° C for 25 minutes until dry inside.
9. Remove from the oven, let it cool and enjoy!

Thanks to its neutral flavor, challah bread can be eaten not only as an accompaniment to meat or vegetables, but also as a breakfast and snack : fill it with fruit jams or hazelnut cream. To make a sweeter base, replace the sesame seeds with sugar grains or chocolate chips!

You can create your braid with 3 or even 5 flaps, if it is not too complex.

storage

Keep for about 2 days in a food bag. You can freeze the challah after three hours of rising , then defrost it in the fridge and then at room temperature before cooking it.

Also try the recipe for brioche bread with almond flakes !