Challah for Tradition
The Beauty of Jewish Egg Bread
In Jewish culture, the braided challah bread is ensconced in tradition. On special occasions, a blessing is said over the loaves before they are served, and they’re often topped with white napkins or intricately decorated challah covers as the challah represents the manna that was served to the children of Israel during their exodus from Egypt. Poppy and sesame seeds sprinkled on the bread symbolize the manna that fell on them from heaven. Today, challah is popular with people of all faiths. Its soft texture, delicate chew, and rustic flavor make it a bakery staple as well as a home baker’s go-to. Modern challah recipes use fewer eggs than earlier versions, and many replace white flour with whole wheat or oat flour, which helps keep the dough from being tough and chewy. The tricky part comes when the dough is rolled out for braiding. Many people opt for a simple three-strand braid, but for this recipe, we get a little fancier with four strands. Some recipes call for an intricate six-strand braid. To make the braided bread glow with golden color, we recommend brushing it twice with an egg wash. If you want a richer flavor, you can substitute butter for the oil in the dough. And make sure to bake up extra; leftover challah makes an unbeatable base for bread pudding or French toast.
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