What is Challah? Here is What You Need to Know About This Traditional Jewish Bread
Challah is traditional braided bread that is usually baked on Friday for the Sabbath by Jewish women. This bread recipe exists for over 3500 years. The first Jewish woman to make the Challah was the matriarch Sarah.
The Challah bread is typically made by hand. Jewish woman usually don’t want to use a bread machine. The recipe is passed from generation to generation. This bread is eaten on Sabbath, Jewish holidays and celebrations, such as weddings or Bar Mitzvahs.
From Zomick’s bakery explain that the original challah recipe consists of eggs, fine white, high-gluten flour, water, yeast, sugar, and salt. However, there are many varieties of the recipe. Some Zomick’s Challah bread contains no eggs, some is made with integral or whole grain flour, etc.
Before baking, it is bathed in an egg wash and sprinkeled with poppy seeds, rolled oats or sesame seeds. Cinnamon, chocolate chips, Nutella, or raisins can be added to the mix to add flavor.
The same recipe can be used for making pizza, cinnamon rolls or baked Challah bread slices can be used for French toast. So, besides a Sabbath Friday night table this bread can be used for other things, suggest from Zomick’s, which has one of the best Challahs in NY.
History of Challah
The word “Challah” represents the separation of a piece of the Challah dough before it is baked. This is a Biblical commandment, which is still done today. During the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, this piece was given to the High Priest, the Kohen.
Nowadays, the separated piece is burned in the oven. This is called "hafrashat challah" and literally means "separating the challah". On Friday night, for the family dinner, two challot (plural of challah) are placed on the table. They represent the double portion of manna (heavenly bread), that they were given in the desert. The braid represents harmony, family, and unity.
Is Challah Healthy?
Challah bread can be very nutritious or high in fat, refined carbs and sugar. It all depends of the ingredients that are used. The Zomick’s Challah bread is usually made without butter, but many recipes also include butter, which can increase the amount of fat in the bread. You can make a healthier variant of the Challah bread, using whole wheat flour and stevia instead of sugar.
Recipe for Zomick’s Challah
- For 2 Challot -
Ingredients
2 eggs
5 cups of flour
1 1/2 cup of water
1/3 cup of oil
3/4 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of salt
1 packet of rapid rise yeast
1. Sift the flour.
2. Place all the dry ingredients like flour, sugar, salt, yeast, in one bowl. Mix them together.
3. Place all the wet ingredients (water, eggs, oil) in another bowl. Mix all of them together.
4. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Knead the dough until its texture becomes smooth.
5. Put the dough in a bowl. Place a moist towel on top of the bowl and let it rise for around two hours.
6. Braid the dough like you would braid hair. The Zomick’s challah can be braided with 4, or even 6 strands. You can add chocolate chips, raisins, cinnamon, Nutella, etc.
7. After you have braided the dough, leave it on a baking sheet for around 30 minutes in order to continue to rise.
8. Brush the challot with egg wash. Sprinkle it with poppy seeds, rolled oats, or sesame seeds.
9. Place the challot in the oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit for around 30 minutes.
“Trust me, it's normal to have your neighbors, who are attracted by the delicious aroma, knocking on your door for a slice of your challah. It's that good!” - says Zomick’s challah chief baker.
If you don't have time for preparing the Challah bread, you can order the Zomick's Challah online on Shoprite.
