Post # 2 - Baking Challah

A staple of Shabbat meals and kosher cooking is baking Challah. Almost all Challah recipes include eggs and therefore they are not suitable for vegan cooking. Below is my first attempt at making delicious Whole Wheat egg free vegan Challah. This recipe was adapted by my wife from the book a "Taste of Challah: A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking" by Tamar Ansh check it out here on Amazon.

Hand Written Challah Recipe

Whole Wheat Vegan Challah Recipe -
This recipe is for four medium sized round Challahs.

• Step 1 -
  Add the below into a small bowl cover for 10 minutes as it bubbles.
  - 3/4 Cup warm water
  - 1/8 Cup brown sugar
  - 1.5 tablespoon of yeast
• Step 2 -
  Add the below into a Kitchen Aid & mix on setting # 2.
  - 1/2 cup olive oil
  - 3/4 Cup brown sugar
  - 1 Cup warm water
  - 4 Cups whole wheat flour
• Step 3 -.
  Add the yeast mixture from step 1 into the Kitchen Aid  and mix again
• Step 4 -
  Add 2 more cups of whole wheat flour into the  Kitchen Aid and mix.
• Step 5 -
  Add 2 more cups of  whole wheat flour into the Kitchen Aid  and mix.
• Step 6 -
  Add 1 cup of warm water a 1/4 cup at a time into the Kitchen Aid  and mix until there is a good consistency.
• Step 7 -
  Allow the mixture in the Kitchen Aid to rise for 10 minutes.
• Step 8 -
  Put a bit of olive oil on your hands and knead the Challah for 30 seconds. 
• Step 9 -
  Take a small ball of Challah out of the mixture and say this is Challah then wrap the piece in foil and throw it away. This is called "Taking Challah".
• Step 10 -
  Get a glass bowl large enough to place your mixture in. Line the glass bowl with a bit of olive oil.
  Place the mixture in the bowl and knead it again for 30 seconds.
• Step 11 -
  Next you will want to cover the glass bowl in a large plastic bag. It should be sealed but have enough room as it will need to rise again. Place the bowl inside of your refrigerator overnight to fully rise.
• Step 12 -
  The next day take out of fridge and shape your Challah. You can add additional ingredients such as as cinnamon and raisins, or a favorite of ours is to add a bit of olive oil on top with zatar.
• Step 13 -
  After you have shaped your Challah it is ready to be baked and can be placed on parchment paper in the oven for 25 min at 350 degrees.

I hope you enjoy the above recipe. Check out my Challah pictures below.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Challah

Whole Wheat Challah

Whole Wheat Challah on Cutting Board

Close up of Whole Wheat Challah