Happy 2018 everyone! I am so excited to welcome the New Year and grateful for the year that just passed. Between moving and buying a house and creating my 1st cookbook, I can honestly say that I am truly blessed!
Now let’s get back to cooking, shall we? I am still working on my annual culinary bucket list for the New Year and have a bunch of recipes I want to learn and conquer in the New Year…you can check it out here and let me know if there is something that YOU have been wanting to make. Make a list, conquer it and learn something new! I’d love to hear about it.
I know we’re all over the holidays. Cookies are done and all we’re seeing are salads up the wazoo, soups and steamed lemon. But for me, it wouldn’t be a true if I didn’t say I was still baking homemade challah. I taught a challah making class a few months ago at the local Co-op and it was so much fun! Each participant braided their own challah to take home and before the class, I made a few to nosh on while they baked.
This was the exact challah I brought to the class. A gorgeous aromatic, savory garlic rosemary challah. There is roasted garlic powder and freshly chopped rosemary inside the dough as well as garnished with thin slices of garlic and small sprigs of rosemary. It is certainly a show-stopper and one of my favorite classic flavor combinations.
Garlic Rosemary Challah
Ingredients
- 1 packet of yeast 1/4 oz
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 whole eggs + 1 egg whisked for egg wash
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tbsp roasted garlic powder
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves chopped finely + more for garnish
- Coarse sea salt for garnish
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- Fresh rosemary sprigs about 1 inch for garnish
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add 1 cup warm water, yeast and sugar. Mix lightly with a fork to get all the yeast in the water and set aside for about 15 minutes. It should begin to foam up and you should see little bubbles.
- In another bowl, whisk together the oil, honey and 2 eggs and pour mixture into the yeast mixture.
- Using a dough attachment on your mixer on low-medium speed, gradually add the flour, salt, garlic powder and chopped rosemary, about 1/2 cup of flour at a time with the mixer on low. Continue to mix until everything is incorporated. The dough should begin to pull away from the bowl and come to 1 large ball of dough.
- Turn the dough onto a very well floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes. You can use your finger to see if it’s ready. Press your finger in and if the dough bounces back quickly, it’s ready.
- In a large bowl, pour a bit of oil in and place your dough ball in the bowl. Turn it around so the entire dough is covered with a thin layer of oil. Cover with a clean towel and place bowl in a warm spot. (for me, it was my oven). Allow to rest and rise for 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
- When dough is ready, it should have doubled in size. Punch the dough down and divide dough into 2 balls, this will be your challahs. Cover 1 ball of dough as you work with the other.
- Divide dough into 3 or 4 pieces (depending on what kind of braid you’d like), which will be your strands. Roll each strand into a long rope all of equal sizes, about 8-10 inches in length and continue with desired braid.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place challahs on baking sheet. Brush each challah with egg wash and sprinkle with course sea salt and chopped rosemary and place sliced garlic in the “nooks” of the braid. Allow to rest for another 30 minutes.
- Bake challah for about 30 minutes or runtil the top is lightly golden brown.
Carly says
March 26, 2018 at 2:30 amThis is the most fantastic recipe. I have made it twice and both times they were perfect. I posted photos on Facebook after which a friend asked me to show her how to make it, so I ended up making the recipe a third time at her house. The smells of the bread baking with roasting garlic and rosemary will knock your socks off!
Samantha says
March 27, 2018 at 10:19 amI love this sooo much!!! I’d love to see the photo if you still have it! Seriously the best challah flavor combo!!
Julie says
July 25, 2018 at 3:17 pmIt was a little strange because of all the honey in it. Maybe cut down the honey or increase the salt? Tasted ok and did look pretty.
Megan says
September 8, 2018 at 12:56 pmI made this last night and we ate one loaf in about 10 minutes. It was amazing! I’m wondering if I can make one really large loaf instead of 2? Would it ruin anything?
Samantha says
September 12, 2018 at 9:28 amHi Megan!! I think if your oven and baking sheet is large enough, you can totally make 1 large loaf..but it will be huge! Maybe you can make it into 1 large 6 braid challah or a large round one? It may take longer to bake as well, so keep an eye on it!
Kylar says
April 23, 2019 at 2:49 pmWould it be okay to incorporate fresh Parmesan cheese or would that mess up the balance?
Samantha says
April 29, 2019 at 5:02 pmHi Kylar! I think parm would be fabulous!! Its dry enough so will be a nice addition.
Rachel says
August 24, 2019 at 12:04 amMy friend and I (both just graduated from college) are pretty amateur bakers, and we blew everyone away with this challah! It was the perfect texture and had a great balance of garlic and rosemary flavor. Both loaves were gone by the end of dinner and we will definitely save this recipe! Thanks!
Samantha says
September 6, 2019 at 6:41 pmHi Rachel!! That makes me SOOOO happy!! So glad you enjoyed the challah! If or when you want something sweet, I suggest trying the rose date challah..its my other favorite 🙂
Sue says
January 25, 2020 at 2:36 pmCan you freeze one for later?
Samantha says
January 28, 2020 at 9:39 amI have not frozen challah before, but I would suggest baking the challah, letting it completely cool and then wrapping very well in plastic wrap and a Ziploc bag and then to reheat, defrost the challah and place in low temp oven until warmed through.
Della says
January 26, 2020 at 7:46 pmMaybe this is a silly question, but is there anything you can substitute the eggs with?
Samantha says
January 28, 2020 at 9:40 amHi Della! I’d suggest looking up a vegan challah recipe. I personally have not made an egg-less challah, but find a good base recipe and then use the garlic rosemary to flavor.
Janis says
April 4, 2020 at 9:58 amDoes it have to be vegetable oil or will any oil work? I prefer to use olive, avocado, or coconut oil. Thanks!
Samantha says
April 4, 2020 at 1:22 pmAny neutral oil should work, I am also working towards better oils as well. I would personally do either grapeseed or olive oil. I think coconut oil would give off a slight taste that wouldn’t go well with the savory garlic. Happy baking!
Janis says
April 4, 2020 at 1:45 pmI went ahead with olive oil and it came out great! Will definitely make this again. Thank you!!