Challah Braid

Challah braid is a special Jewish braided bread eaten on Sabbath and Jewish holidays. You can read more about it here. I am sharing it today because it makes for a great companion to soups, especially pea soup, and homemade meals.  My family loves this bread! It is light, almost like a popover texture inside, and irresistible with softened butter! This recipe takes a while so start it ahead of time. It is definitely worth the effort!

INGREDIENTS

2 1⁄2-2 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour or 2 1⁄2-23⁄4 cups bread flour
2 1⁄2 teaspoons dry yeast or 2 1⁄2 teaspoons quick active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3⁄4 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large egg
vegetable oil
1egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water
poppy seed (optional)


DIRECTIONS

Mix 1 1/4 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt in large bowl. Heat water and 1 tablespoon oil until very warm (120 to 130). Add water mixture to flour mixture. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat in 1 egg until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until double. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

Lightly grease cookie sheet with shortening. Punch down dough and divide into 3 equal parts. Roll each part into a rope, 14 inches long. Place ropes close together on cookie sheet. Braid ropes gently and loosely--do not stretch. Fasten ends and tuck ends under braid securely. Brush with oil. Cover and let rise in warm place 40 to 50 minutes or until double.

Heat oven to 375. Mix egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water and brush over braid. Sprinkle with poppy seed if desired. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Check bread at 15 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if it seems to be browning too quickly. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool.