Recipe | Round Challah Bread

Jewish Blessing of the Challah

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Baruk atah adonai, eloheinu meleck ha-olam, hamotzi lehem meen ha-aretz.

This blessing, called the Berakhah HaMotzi is recited before eating bread in Jewish homes. After ceremonial hand-washing, two challah loaves are lifted up by the head of the household and blessed.

This blessing is intended to be a reminder that God will provide for our material needs in the same way that a double portion of manna fell on the Friday before each Sabbath in Exodus 16:4-30. HaMotzi is one of the most frequently quoted Jewish blessings and is used on Shabbat, for holidays, and other occasions. Source: Hebrew4Christians


Challah for Rosh Hashanah

“On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, challah takes on an extra significance. Representing hopes for ‘a sweet new year,’ the dough is studded with raisins, and pieces are dipped in honey [Israeli Plum Flower Honey] before being eaten. Munching on these delicious morsels, celebrants pray that God will bestow on them a fate as pleasant as the bread's flavor. The bread becomes a tangible symbol of the holiday's deeper meaning.”—Epicurious

Basic Challah Recipe

Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons (6 grams/0.2 ounce) instant yeast
• About 3 1/2 cups (475 grams/16.8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (60 grams/2 ounces) warm water
• 3 large eggs, plus 1 for glazing
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (8 grams/0.3 ounce) table salt
• 1/4 cup (55 grams/1.9 ounces) vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup (85 grams/3 ounces) mild honey or 1/3 cup (70 grams/2.4 ounces) granulated sugar

Preparation
Mixing the yeast slurry: In a large bowl, whisk together the yeast and 1/4 cup (30 grams/1.1 ounces) of the flour, then whisk in the warm water until smooth. Let the yeast slurry stand uncovered for 10 to 20 minutes, or until it begins to ferment and puff up slightly.

Mixing the dough
For the complete recipe from Epicurious, click here.

Elaborate Shapes

Typically, challah is formed into long braids made from multiple strands of dough. But on the Jewish New Year, bakers make loaves in the shape of a ladder, bird or a crown. Round loaves are intended to symbolize concepts like the wheel of the seasons, God’s crown, and a spiral of hope progessing upward through life’s cycles. Step-by-step directions for creating an intricate twisted circle can be found here.


Related Articles

1. Bistro Challah Bread

2. Menu Plans for the Jewish High Holidays

3. Jewish Autumn Holidays (Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur)


Aprons Make Great Gifts!

"Love your aprons and hope to talk my man into getting me one for my up coming birthday :) Now the hard job will be picking ONE!"—Mac an Rothaich

If you need to buy a birthday or hostess gift for your favorite bread baker, consider giving a retro-chic vintage apron from Susannah’s Aprons.

You’ll find more delicious recipes at:

• This Week's Cravings at Mom's Crazy Cooking
• Friday Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge
• Friday Food at Mom Trends
• Half Hour Meals




Photos: Epicurious. Balakov, K-Money, LeamingtonMalfoof (Flickr)