Challah Bread

Challah is a special Jewish braided bread eaten on Sabbath and Jewish holidays

More reading on Challah - the braided Sabbath Bread by Claudia Roden

Challah is made in various sizes and shapes, all of which have a meaning. Braided ones, which may have three, four, or six strands, are the most common, and because they look like arms intertwined, symbolize love. Three braids symbolize truth, peace, and justice. Twelve humps from two small or one large braided bread recall the miracle of the 12 loaves for the 12 tribes of Israel. Round loaves, where there is no beginning and no end,? are baked for Rosh Hashanah to symbolize continuity. Ladder and hand shapes are served at the meal before the fast of Yom Kippur the ladder signifying that we should ascend to great heights, the hand that we may be inscribed for a good year. On Purim, small triangular loaves symbolize Haman’s ears; at Shavuot, two oblongs side by side represent the Tablets of the Law. The bulkah is a segmented rectangular challah. Sweet challahs with honey or raisins are baked during the festive season to bring joy and happiness.

And “How to make Challah" by Tori

challah is so much more than just bread. The tradition of challah is a very spiritual one; for observant Jews, it is a way to directly connect with the spiritual energy of God. In fact, baking challah is considered an important blessing in the Jewish home.

Today, the word challah is used to describe the beautiful loaf of braided bread that appears on Shabbat tables all over the world. In ancient times, challah referred to a small bit of dough that was set aside for the Temple priests as an offering to God:

Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it.

Numbers 15:20

This is just my new found, did a few of google search to find out this meaningful bread. I have changed to my own liking taste. Original Challah is usually using plain flour and less sweetness. Here it is the Challah Recipe - Jane's Version Challah Bread. 

Thermomix Recipe

Jane's Challah 

Ingredients A:

100g Cream

140 g "2 eggs + Milk" ( I added in the egg white that dismissed for egg wash)

100 g Sugar
50 g Butter
2 tsp Instant Yeast

Ingredients B:
550 g High Protein Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Pinch of  salt

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Ingredients C:

150 g raisins, plumped in hot water and drained.

Ingredients for topping:
Sesame seeds and poppy seeds for sprinkling 

Egg Wash

1 Egg yolk (throw in the egg white in ingredient A)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp water
(Beat till smooth)

• Instructions:

1. Mix ingredients A,
    mc / 1 min / speed 3

2. Add ingredients B to mix well
    mc / 30 sec / speed 3-6 ( increase from 3 after 3 seconds turn to speed 6)

3. Then, knead
    mc / 3 min / knead 

4. Transfer the dough to Thermo mat, knead and mold into a ball shape, wrap with Thermo mat to proof for 1 hour.

5. After 1 hour degas the dough, knead raisins even into bread dough. Divide dough into two halves, work one by one. Take one half, divided into desired equal parts, if you would like to plait 6 strands, then divide into 6 parts. 

6. Follow braiding instructions to start braiding. Keep braided challah bread dough on a greased baking tray, cover with cloth, wait for another proofing for 45 minutes. 

7. Preheat oven at 180°C. Egg wash the bread dough, sprinkle lots of sesame seeds over the bread before baking. Bake for 16 - 20 minutes.

8. After 12 minutes Turn baking tray around to allow challah bread brown evenly. 

9. Bake for another 8 minutes, add a foil tent over the bread to prevent surface over burn. 

10. To test if it is fully done, turn bread around to tap on the base of the bread, it makes hollow sound. Let it cool on cooling tray.

Lots of poppy seeds and sesame seeds

 Click here to learn how to braid challah.

However you may also try to understand the written format that I have scripted down for my own usage.

Ways to braid Challah Bread

4-strand Braid

4 over 3, 2 over 1, 2 over 3

Repeat

4 over 3, 2 over 1, 2 over 3

5-strand Braid

From Right outside

5 over 4, 3 over 4

Then Left outside

1 over 2, 3 over 2

6-strand Braid (Album step-by-step tutorial)

Starts with

6 over 1,  2 over 6

Take left 1 to middle (3), then 5 over 1

Take right to middle (3), then 2 over 6

7-strand Braid

Break into 2 groups, 4 on the right, 3 on the left

Outside 7 moves over 6 but under 4 and 5.

Outside 1 moves over 2 but under 3 and 4

8-strand Braid

Same as 6-strand plait

Starts with 8 over 1, 2 over 8

Left 1 to middle, pull 7 to replace 1

Right 8 to middle, pull 2 to replace 8

9-strand Braid

Break into 2 groups, 4 and 4

Right Outside over 2 strands and under 2 strands.
Left outside over 2 strands and under 2 strands.

Here is the Video where I got this script from 

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