challah bread - john murphy's
There's a long story behind this bread recipe. But I will tell you, I learned to make this bread when I visited old friends of the family who lived in a Victorian house, 40 years ago, in the Bay Area of the San Fransico They had a large marble slab to knead bread on and old wood burning stove. It made all the difference in flavor and texture. Since we all can't live in an old Victorian home in the Bay Area with a woodburning stove or a marble slab...we will just have to make do. There is a big difference in Saffron. My favorite is Spanish Saffron. It is well worth the expense.
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prep time
1 Hr
cook time
1 Hr
method
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yield
12 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 1 - package dry yeast or cake
- 1/4 cup warm water, 120*
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons cold raw organic butter
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt (fine)
- 1/16 teaspoon spanish saffron
- 2 - xlg fresh organic egg, slightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 5 cups sifted organic milled red wheat flour..more or less
- 2 tablespoons soft organic raw butter
- 1 - organic egg yolk, egg wash
- 1 tablespoon water, used in the egg wash
- - poppy seeds or sesame seeds (optional)
How To Make challah bread - john murphy's
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Step 1Dissolve yeast in 1/4 warm water.
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Step 2Turn the 1 cup of hot water into a large china bowl and add the 2Tbl. cold butter. Stir until the butter has melted. Add the salt, sugar and (crush by hand} saffron. Do not wash your hands the saffron flavor on your hands will help flavor the dough when you knead. Let it rest a minute.
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Step 3Stir in the slightly beaten eggs.
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Step 4Add the yeast. Blend well.
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Step 5Gradually add the sifted flour in till you have a soft dough. Turn out on a slightly floured surface and knead in more flour until you have smooth and shinny dough. If it isn't keep kneading. If it's sticky knead in more flour. The more the dough is kneaded the better. It takes me about 20-25 mintues of continually kneading. And yes, I do have arm muscles.
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Step 6Top with soft butter and turn..coating all sides.
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Step 7Cover and set in a warm place until double. About an hour.
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Step 8Punch down dough and turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead dough until it is smooth, elastic and you heaar popping sounds if you kneaded it enough the first time of kneading.
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Step 9Cut the dough in 3 equal pieces. Form each piece into a loaf shape.
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Step 10Roll each piece, by hand on a lightly floured surface, till it's just about 24 inches long. DO NOT stretch the dough.
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Step 11Braid the 3 pieces together, pinching the ends together. Traditonally, the dough is formed into the letter "C" for Chanukah.
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Step 12On a little greased large cookie sheet, carefully lift the breaded dough on to it.
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Step 13Make the egg wash with the water.
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Step 14Brush the egg wash on the dough. Reserve some of the egg wash.
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Step 15Cover and set braid in a warm place to rise double. I make a tent with 4 plastic bottles and 2 cotton flour sack towel, because I find the egg wash makes the towel stick.
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Step 16Brush top of dough again with the egg wash. Sprinkle poppy seeds or sesame seeds on top. Or leave plain.
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Step 17Bake in a preheated tested oven at 375*. Bake 55 to 60 until crust is a golden brown and the bread tests done. Turn on a rack to cool. How to test for bread..tap on the bread, if you hear a hollow sound it is done.
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Step 18I have a baker's rack..I inherited. I have a commerical rack too, saved from when I had my catering service. I suggest if you do alot bake..you invest in one.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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Savory Breads
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