famous challah

🥘 Ingredients

• • all-purpose flour
• • dry yeast
• • egg
• • vegetable oil
• • salt
• • sugar
• • warm water
• • poppy seeds

📝 Instructions

1. 1 first measure out all your ingredients
2. 2 now from the 1 / 2 of cup sugar take 1 tablespoon of the sugar & combine it with the yeast& warm water
3. 3 i let my mixer bowl which is metal sit in a hot water bath while the yeast dissolves , 10 minutes
4. 4 after the yeast has dissolved add to it the rest of the sugar , salt & 3 1 / 2 cups flour
5. 5 mix well
6. 6 add egg & oil
7. 7 slowly start mixing in most of the remaining 3 1 / 2 cups of flour
8. 8 the dough will become quite thick
9. 9 when the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl , turn it onto a floured surface& knead for approximately 10 minute
10. 10 add only enough additional flour to make dough manageable
11. 11 knead until dough has acquired a "life of its own"
12. 12 it should be smooth & elastic , springing back when pressed lightly with your finger
13. 13 place dough into a large oiled bowl turning the dough once so its oiled on all sides
14. 14 cover with a damp towel & let rise in a warm place for 2 hours , punching down in 4-5 places every 20 minutes
15. 15 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
16. 16 after the 2 hours , turn your dough onto your working surface
17. 17 now comes the forming part
18. 18 for shabbos i always make a 2 level braided challah which looks great & is really easy
19. 19 prepare your baking sheet lining it with parchment paper
20. 20 preheat oven to 375f
21. 21 first , take a large knife & cut the dough in half
22. 22 next , from each 1 / 2 now cut off a third & place the 2 thirds on the side
23. 23 now , from the first half divide the remaining dough into approximately equal thirds
24. 24 roll each third out till its about 10-12 inches & braid all 3 roll together pinching the top & bottom half together& turning them slightly under
25. 25 place on baking sheet
26. 26 repeat the same for other half
27. 27 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
28. 28 repeat same for other third
29. 29 now let the challah rise for 1 / 2 an hour
30. 30 after the challah has risen glaze with beaten egg & add mohn or sesame if you wish
31. 31 almost done !
32. 32 put in preheated oven & let bake for exactly 25 minutes !
33. 33 turn off oven & leave challahs in for exactly another 10 minutes !
34. 34 remove from oven
35. 35 enjoy--you deserve every compliment you get !