Předpokládaná doba čtení: 3 minuty
Bake something special for your family or friends this holiday season something you haven’t tried before. We have a tip for a delicious treat: sweet, festive challah bread. Its rich flavor might just surprise you.
What is Challah?
Challah is more than just bread it’s a symbol of deep tradition. Its story dates back to ancient times, when Moses would set aside a piece of each loaf as an offering for the priests. That beautiful tradition lives on today: before challah goes into the oven, a small piece of dough is symbolically burned. This simple ritual continues to connect generations even now.
Challah bread as a traditional holiday dish
Challah, the braided bread, is a Jewish specialty traditionally prepared for holidays—especially Shabbat, the day of rest when no work is done. Challah serves as a symbolic reminder of biblical times, when manna fell from the sky to nourish the Jews during their journey from Egypt. On the day before the Sabbath, a double portion would fall, since none came on the holy day itself.
Challah is braided with three to eight strands and is traditionally broken by hand rather than sliced with a knife. The braids are rich in symbolism some say they represent a bride’s hair and the wealth of her family. The more strands, the greater the prosperity.
Try making challah yourself! What will you need?
- 2 ¼ teaspoons dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 7 large egg yolks (reserve the whites for brushing)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Let’s get started
Even if you’ve never worked with yeast dough before, don’t worry you’ve got this.
In a bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy this means the yeast is active. In a larger bowl, mix together the flour, egg yolks, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Add the yeast mixture and stir until the dough starts to come together.
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead by hand for about 10 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour and keep kneading.
Lightly oil a clean bowl, place the dough inside, and cover. Let it rise for about 1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size. Then, knead it again briefly and divide it into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 40 cm (16 inches) long, and braid them together like a plait. Pinch the ends to seal.
Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let it rise again for 30 to 45 minutes. Brush the loaf with egg whites and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Buy the ingredients with your eStravenka card
Enjoy shopping for your challah ingredients with your eStravenka card. Before heading to the store, don’t forget to check your eStravenka balance in the Můj Up mobile app. You can also use the location finder to see where you can shop nearby. Bon appétit and enjoy the rest of the holidays!
