Challah bread is a jewish bread which have a wonderful rich texture with a beautiful crust eventhough butter or milk is not used in this bread. This bread is served with meats during Jewish festivals.
Ingredients:
4cups All purpose flour
1+1/2tsp Instant yeast
1/4cup Sugar
1tsp Salt
2nos Large eggs
1/4cup Oil
1/2cup Water
Black poppyseeds
Sesame seeds
Egg wash:
1no Egg yolk
1tbsp Water
Method:
In a lare bowl, combine the eggs,oil and water, stir well.
Mix in the flour,yeast,sugar,salt and knead everything together to form a stiff dough,knead well for few more minutes until the dough turns soft and smooth dough.
Transfer the dough to a greased large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap,let it sit in a warm place until its doubled in size for about 2hours.
Gently press down the dough,reflate it and cover it again, let it sit again for about an another hour.
Take the dough in a lightly floured surface, divide into three large balls and again divide each balls into two more medium balls again.
Now you have six balls, roll them as medium sized ropes.Line them side by side, pinch the pieces together at one end and start braiding.
Transfer it to the baking sheet lined over a baking tray, let it sit again in a warm place for half an hour.
Meanwhile mix the egg yolk and water for egg wash.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Brush generously the rised braided bread with the egg wash,springle the black poppy seeds and sesame seeds generously.
Bake the bread for 30-35minutes or until the crust turns golden brown.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.