Challah Shabbat/Shabbos Bread Recipe
- 3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F.)
- 2 14 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 14 cup vegetable oil
- 13 cup sugar
- 1 egg (graded large)
- 12 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon water
- sesame (optional) or poppy seed (optional)
- Into large bowl, measure 2 cups of the flour.
- Set aside.
- Into a blender jar,.
- Pour the water, yeast, and remaining cup of flour.
- Cover and blend at low speed.
- Uncover and continue blending while adding the oil, sugar, large egg, and salt.
- Blend until mixture is smooth.
- Pour batter over the reserved flour.
- Mix thoroughly with a spoon until a ball of dough forms.
- Place in a lightly greased bowl turning to grease all sides.
- Cover and let rise in a warm draft-free place for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
- Stir down.
- Shape the dough into challas, braided or unbraided.
- To shape into 2 small braided challas, divide the dough in half.
- Divide each part into 3 equal parts.
- Roll each part into a long coil of even thickness.
- Pinch together the tops of all 3 pieces.
- Start to braid by taking the outer right strip and crossing it over the center strip, bringing it to the center.
- Then take the outer left strip and cross it over the middle strip, bringing it to the center.
- Repeat the procedure by alternately bringing the right strip to the center until all are braided.
- Pinch the ends together.
- Tuck the ends in carefully.
- Transfer the bread to a greased loaf pan, 9 5/8 x 5 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- If you choose to make one large challah, use a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.
- For a round challah, shape the dough round with your cupped hands.
- Place in greased 9-inch pan (round).
- Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Beat the remaining egg with the tablespoon of water just to blend.
- Brush the top of the breads with the egg wash. Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
- Bake for about 40 minutes, until breads are well browned and sound hollowed when tapped with knife handle or spoon.
- Remove to racks to cool.
flour, warm water, active dry yeast, vegetable oil, sugar, egg, salt, water, sesame
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/challah-shabbat-shabbos-bread-recipe-284711 (may not work)