Round challah is a staple of the Jewish New Year, as the round shape represents the circular cycle of the year. Often sugar or raisins are sprinkled atop the challah to mimic the wish you have for a sweet year. The trick to getting your round challah looking good is a solid weaving technique. Even if you don't need to make challah, you can braid any type of bread this way to create a beautiful work of edible art.
Instructions
1. Divide the dough into four equal parts and roll each section into a long, skinny rope. Coat your hands and the dough lightly with oil to prevent the dough from sticking while you work.
2. Lay one of the ropes vertically and a second one across it horizontally to form a plus sign. Place a third rope vertically on top of the horizontal rope, to the right of the other vertical one.
3. Place the fourth rope horizontally below the other horizontal one. The lower rope should be placed over the right vertical rope and underneath the left vertical rope.
4. Pass the lower-right vertical rope to the left, over the left vertical rope. Do the same for each of the other pairs of strands. Make sure the right strand of each pair passes over the left one.
5. Lift the lower vertical strand that you haven't moved yet and pass it to the left, over the nearest strand to it. Repeat with the remaining three strands that have not yet been moved. Pass each of those strands to the left over the strand nearest it.
6. Keep passing the strands around in the same pattern until the strand ends are not long enough to weave anymore. Pick up the entire round weave and turn it upside down. Pull the strand ends onto the bottom of the challah and place the dough, with the strand ends down, onto a baking sheet to bake.
Tags: vertical rope, left over, strand ends, left vertical, left vertical rope
