Rabbis Wifes Challah
- 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 7 to 8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- Sesame seeds
- Poppy seeds
- Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in 2 cups warm water in the bowl of a standing mixer equipped with a dough hook.
- Add the whole egg and the oil, and mix.
- Gradually add 7 cups of the flour and the salt to the bowl, and blend well.
- When the dough starts to come together, turn it out onto a floured work surface and knead with your hands, adding more flour until the dough is smooth and doesnt stick to your hand.
- Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a cloth, and set it in a dry place.
- Let it rise for 45 minutes.
- Punch down the dough and separate it into three balls.
- Roll each out to a long strand, then braid the three strands.
- Pinch the ends together to form a circle with a diameter of at least 9 inches.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, and carefully transfer the dough to the sheet.
- Beat the egg yolk in a little bowl, and paint the dough with it.
- Let the dough rise for 45 minutes in the closed oven.
- Remove the dough, paint again with more egg yolk, and sprinkle some sesame seeds heavily in a 2-inch band, then sprinkle a band of poppy seeds, continuing to make five or six wide strips of poppy seeds and sesame seeds around the dough.
- Put the challah back in the oven, turn the oven temperature to 400 degrees, and cook for 30 minutes, or until the challah sounds hollow when tapped.
- Remove, and let cool.
active dry yeast, sugar, egg, vegetable oil, flour, salt, sesame seeds, seeds
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/rabbi-s-wife-s-challah-373969 (may not work)