Anyone make challah by hand?

Silver Member Joined: Jul 12 2010 Posts: 654

My mixer is getting repaired, but I want to make challah this week anyway. Anyone makes challos by hand entirely? Is there a special technique to mixing the dough? I don't want to mess it up.

Posted: Wed, Feb 01 2012, 6:49 pm Post subject: re: Anyone make challah by hand?

Making half a recipe is easier.
I've done a full 5 lbs. it's just a lot of work. But totally do-able.
I use this recipe when making it by hand. The original recipe is small and really easy to make by hand.
http://imamother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47972&highlight=breslov
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Moderator Joined: Nov 20 2005 Posts: 4868

Whatever you do, don't knead on a glass table top. I smashed my glass table top by kneading dough on it several years ago. Wasnt a pretty sight!

Posted: Wed, Feb 01 2012, 7:08 pm Post subject:

I only knead by hand
Don't add all ingredients at once do it slowly

Active Poster Joined: Sep 07 2009 Posts: 55

I always make challah by hand. I was afraid to kill my Kitchen Aid motor so I just put all the ingredients in a very large bowl and mix. Doesn't take long at all! Try it-I also found it easier to wash the bowl than clean up the mess with the mixer Smile

I've been doing it for years like this, and I use 5 lbs of flour at a time. Good luck!

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 12 2010 Posts: 5799

I do I just put everything in a bowl and knead until its a dough.
I let it rise a bit, knead some more, rise fully, knead again and then shape.
comes out great.

good luck
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Silver Member Joined: Oct 09 2010 Posts: 701

When My mixer broke 8 years ago I started kneading by hand and even though a bought a new one in the meantime I kept on kneading by hand. It makes less mess and less bowl and thing to wash.
I dissolve the yeast in warm water with a little sugar and when I pour it into the bowl I'm careful it shouldn't touch the salt or sugar.
Depending on the weather outside I adjust the water and oil (another plus when making by hand you can feel the texture and adjust)
I do 2.500 kilo at a time
In the beginning it took me at least 30 minutes to knead, alternating between hands - now it goes in 8 min.

Posted: Wed, Feb 01 2012, 9:17 pm Post subject: re: Anyone make challah by hand?

I make challah by hand. I find that it's easier if I don't add all of the flour (I use a 5 lb bag) at once.

Senior Member Joined: Oct 22 2006 Posts: 132

I'm not a major challah maker, but occasionally I make 5 lbs by hand. (I did it just this past week). I follow the recipe I use from a cookbook. I just keep adding in the flour bit by bit at at time. I don't knead it for that long. Just until the flour is all 'absorbed'. (Eventhough the 2 recipes I use say things like "let the dough mix for 10 minutes on high....). After I knead the flour in I take about 1-2 capfuls of oil and spread it all around the dough. I let it rise in a garbage bag (less mess and it doesn't dry it.) My dough has b'h always come out good like that. Hatzlacha! I hope it comes out great!

Silver Member Joined: Jul 12 2010 Posts: 654

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll take ra_mom's advice and and start off with 1/2 a recipe in case my hands get too tired... Wink

Who knows I might end up continuing this way!

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2010 Posts: 2125

I'm short, so I put the bowl on the floor, kneel, and knead that way. the counter and table are awkward heights for that kind of motion, for me at least.
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Diamond Member Joined: Jan 14 2011 Posts: 2733

Diamond Member Joined: Jan 14 2011 Posts: 2733

I always make my challah dough by hand, I don't have any special advice or tips to offer but I did want to say it makes me think that this is one thing I do that is probably exactly like sarah imeinu used to do... its a nice feeling. nerdy, but nice.

Senior Member Joined: Jun 12 2011 Posts: 117

Silver Member Joined: Oct 09 2010 Posts: 701

Posted: Thu, Feb 02 2012, 2:04 pm Post subject: re: Anyone make challah by hand?

I've made challah by buy hand for many years -- ever since the Bosch broke. I use 5 lbs of flour at a time. I knead directly on my wooden counter and clean up afterward with a dough scraper. Handmade challah has a better texture than Bosch-kneaded challah.

A tip: You need leverage and the ability to fully extend your arms to knead challah by hand easily. Unless you are very, very tall, consider either kneading at a table (rather than a kitchen counter) or standing on a stool (I use a little kids' stool).
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