Sourdough Challah
Calories: 14
Adjust Servings Here: 10 slices
Description
Are you ready to embark on a journey into the delicious world of sourdough bread? Picture this: a perfectly golden loaf with a tender crust that surprises your palate and a crumb that is so light and airy that it practically melts in your mouth. If you've ever wondered how to achieve this pinnacle of bread perfection, you're in luck.
Ingredients
- 240 g (1 cups) Lukewarm water
- 100 g (2 large) Eggs
- 100 g (½ cups) Active sourdough starter (all bubbly and raring to go!)
- 250 g (2 cups) Bread flour
- 250 g (2 cups) All-purpose flour
- 30 g (2 tbsp) Honey or sugar
- 30 g (2 tbsp) Cooking oil vegetable or coconut
- 10 g (1¾ tsp) Kosher salt
- ½ cup (75 g) Sesame seeds for coating two ropes (optional)
Instructions
- Autolyze - Stir the water, eggs, and active sourdough starter with both flours in a stand mixer bowl. Cover the bowl and leave to rest for 60 minutes.240 g Lukewarm water , 100 g Eggs , 100 g Active sourdough starter , 250 g Bread flour, 250 g All-purpose flour
- Knead - Next, add the oil, honey, and salt. Knead the dough with a dough hook attachment on medium speed for 10 to 12 minutes. It should become smoother and more elastic.30 g Honey , 30 g Cooking oil , 10 g Kosher salt
- Bulk ferment - Place your kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rest at room temperature for 4-8 hours. It should nearly double in size.
- Divide - After the rise, punch down the dough and divide it into four equal parts. Shape each piece into a ball. Then, flatten each piece and roll it into a tight sausage. Roll each sausage into an 18-inch-long rope. With a bit of water on a plate, moisten two ropes with water and coat them with sesame seeds. This is optional, but it does give the braid a nice look.½ cup Sesame seeds
- Braid - To braid the four ropes, place them on your work surface, pin them together at the top, then braid them as shown in the video. You now have 1, 2, 3, and 4 strands from left to right.– Strand 1 goes over 4, and 4 goes over 1– Simple criss-cross.– Then, four comes in between 2 and 3.– And three goes over 1 (in place of 4).– Then, one comes down between 2 and 4.– And two goes over 4 (in place of 1).
- Proof - Place your lovely braid on a lined or lightly greased baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth or greased plastic. Let it rest and rise again for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or in the fridge for 4 to 6 hours.
- Oven - About 20 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 350°F /177°C / Gas Mark 4.
- Bake – Brush the bread with a beaten egg. Then, bake the loaf on the center rack of the oven for 35 to 40 minutes. You're looking for a beautiful golden brown top and a bottom that sounds hollow when tapped. If it starts browning too quickly, tent it with some aluminum foil.
- Cool – Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then, cover it with a clean kitchen cloth to keep it soft.
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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