new york city soft street pretzels

How To Make new york city soft street pretzels

• 1

  Beat everything until well-combined. Knead the dough, by hand or machine, for about 5 minutes, until it’s soft, smooth, and quite slack. Flour the dough (so it doesn’t stick), place it in a bag, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
• 2

  While the dough is resting, prepare the “dip.” Mix boiling water with the baking soda, stirring until the soda is totally (or almost totally) dissolved. Set the mixture aside to cool to lukewarm (or cooler).
• 3

  After 30 minutes, transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface. Preheat your oven to 475°F. Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it with vegetable oil spray, or lining it with parchment paper.
• 4

  Divide the dough into eight equal pieces (about 70g, or 2 1/2 ounces, each). Shape each piece into a rough log, and let them rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Roll each piece of dough into a long, thin rope (about 28″ to 30 ” long), and twist each rope into a pretzel.
• 
  5

  Pour the baking soda/water into a 9″ square pan. Working with four pretzels at a time, place them in the pan with the baking soda/water, smooth side down, as pictured. Spoon the water over them; let them soak for 2 minutes before placing them on the baking sheet smooth side up. Allow them to soak for 2 mins. This baking soda “bath” will give the pretzels a nice, golden-brown color.
• 6

  Sprinkle the pretzels lightly with coarse, kosher, or pretzel salt, if desired. Allow them to rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Bake the pretzels for 8 to 9 minutes, or until they’re golden brown. While the pretzels are baking, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Unsalted is best, if you’ve topped the pretzels with coarse salt.
• 7

  Keep brushing the butter on until you’ve used it all up; it may seem like a lot, but that’s what gives these pretzels their ethereal flavor.
• 8

  Enjoy the pretzels warm – just as you would from a street vendor. Or reheat them briefly in an oven or microwave; equally good. Memories are made of this…
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