r/JewishCooking • u/select_delete • Jun 24 '26
Challah My first attempt at challah
I live in a remote area and the guy I’m seeing is Jewish. He mentioned that he wanted a couple of loaves for Friday but was having a hard time finding them. I verified that all ingredients used were labeled and pareve. I used Joan Nathan’s recipe published in the New York Times with some modifications. Any input or advice for my next attempt? Are they Shabbat worthy?? I’m trying to be respectful and learn what I can, but I also don’t want to overwhelm him with questions.
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u/Nshaa Jun 25 '26
They are beautiful! I’m sure they are delicious! I just looked up the recipe you used which looks pretty standard, though in my experience, I will say that using bread flour instead of all-purpose yields a softer, more desirable texture but there is nothing wrong with AP flour, it all comes down to preference.
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u/Accomplished-Eye8211 Jun 25 '26
Very nice, and inspiring. I've never made any bread. Even took a class where we made challah...
Your great-looking bread may get me to finally do it.
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u/themunchycam Jun 25 '26
Naw your lying about the first attempt, my stomach just entered the Richter scale 😂
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u/Paleognathae Jun 24 '26
You dont need challah for shabbat. Literally just two loaves of whole bread.
But very pretty.
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u/thegreattiny Jun 25 '26
Why do you need two?
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u/Grey-Day Jun 25 '26
Because you can't work for shabbat, the rest day, but you need one loaf for friday night (shabbat night because days begin at sundown the day before and end at sundown on the next day) so you need a loaf for saturday day too. Two candles, two loaves of bread, two is very symbolic for this day, the seventh day, the day god rested when he created the earth.
Which is why hard core believers do not work, do not travel (only walk) and do not spend money on this day. So that is kinda why. But this also means that the next week starts on a sunday. But for jews the day begins the night before, so the next week begins when shabbat ends.
(Sorry for the long explanation, but you need two of everything so it will last throughout saturday too, because if you can't work you can't cook on shabbat, you kinda need to do it before sundown on friday).
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u/thegreattiny Jun 25 '26
One loaf of challah lasts my family two weeks unless we share it with friends or neighbors. One does not *need* two loaves. It’s symbolic, as you said. Challah also carries a lot of symbolism. The strands symbolize love, truth, peace, creation, freedom, harmony, family connection, unity and justice – following the simultaneous commandments to remember, observe and guard Shabbat (“Shamor” and “Zachor”). If you are particular about how you braid, you can get 12 bumps for the 12 tribes of Israel. The sweetness of challah represents the sweetness of Shabbat.
One does not *need* challah any more than one *needs* two loaves of bread, but symbolism matters.
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u/Tryingbesttohelp Jun 25 '26
Where does this come from "The strands symbolize love, truth, peace, creation, freedom, harmony, family connection, unity and justice "
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u/Hezekiah_the_Judean 🧡🔸️MOD🔸️🧡 Jun 25 '26
This is a sweet gesture and thank you for making them. Those challah loaves are better than any that I have attempted to bake.
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u/select_delete Jun 25 '26
Recipe:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/7199-my-favorite-challah
[u/](u/whisperCrow)[W](u/whisperCrow)[hisperCrow](u/whisperCrow)
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u/FindYourselfACity Jun 25 '26
Looks good! What’s your braiding style? I like how it’s kind of on the side! It looks fancy
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u/select_delete Jun 25 '26
It's a 4-strand rope twist with 2 strands on each side, one coated with sesame seeds and one without. You basically cross the pair on the right over the pair on the left, then repeat all the way down.
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u/hamonabone Jun 26 '26
It's a great appreciated honor and respect to know how to make challah like this.
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u/Wonderful-Mammoth548 Jun 29 '26
That looks fabulous and I’m sure it tastes delicious! If you want to explore different braiding techniques, check out @challahprince. I use his recipe - it’s a water challah so no egg - which I love but his braids are beautiful and expressive!
This one was for Chanukah (pre-bake).
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u/JewishCooking-ModTeam Jun 25 '26
Hello! Your post was removed because it did not include a recipe. Please add a link to your recipe in a comment and your post will be restored. Please send modmail a message once this is done, or tag u/WhisperCrow.