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Parve
Easy
10 Hours
Diets 
You CAN have the same sourdough taste and health benefits without losing the feeling of challah. Try this recipe and taste for yourself.
Yields 6 medium challah loaves
800 grams (28.2 ounces, or 3 and 1/2 cups less 1/2 tablespoon) leaven (fed around 12 hours prior)
700 grams (24.7 ounces or 3 cups plus 1 tablespoon) plain seltzer
1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
100 grams (3 and 1/2 ounces, or 1/2 cup less 1 tablespoon) Gefen Canola Oil
8 large eggs
2,000 grams (70 and 1/2 ounces, or 16 and 1/2 cups) high-gluten flour (I use Glicks)
3 tablespoons table salt
2 egg yolks, beaten with a little water
In a mixer bowl, add leaven, seltzer, sugar, oil, eggs, and most of the flour (reserve a few hundred grams, about 1 cup). Knead for about two to four minutes. Let sit for about 15 minutes.
Add salt and remaining flour; knead for about five to eight minutes. If the edges are sticking a lot to the edge of the bowl, add 100–200 grams of additional flour. It’s normal for the dough to be somewhat sticky.
Spray a large container with cooking spray. Place dough in container and cover. Let rise for two hours. (Optional: lift, stretch and fold over the edges twice during that time.) Then refrigerate for six to 12 hours. Remove from fridge.
Heat oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. When preheated, turn off the oven. Place dough into challah pans about halfway full (te dough will be too sticky to braid). Cover pans and place in warm oven for one-and-a-half to two hours.
Remove challahs from oven and egg wash them while oven is preheating to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. (I like to sprinkle everything spice or press a few chocolate chips into the challah).
Bake for 10 minutes. Lower to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
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How do you make 800g of levain? Can you give a time line by days?
My guess is you’d have to feed it a large amount to get that much leaven.
Do you have the exact quantities of starter, water and flour?
you always add equal amounts of water and flour to the starter every time you feed it. So if you need 800g of leaven for the challah, you would need 400g water + 400g flour (its good to save some extra starter for next time, so don’t count the amount you already have towards the amount you need for your challah recipe). enjoy!
You can take your starter out of the fridge 1 day before you want to make your challah. feed it 400g and then 12 hours later another 400g. Then wait 8 or so hours and it should be ready to use. Enjoy!
eggs spelt can I use spelt flour? will it have the same taste and benefits? does it make a difference if I use xl eggs?
large or x-large eggs are fine. Health-wise, I imagine the benefits would be as good or better! For the taste, I can’t say for sure since I’ve never worked with spelt before. If you want to be adventurous, give it a try and let us know! Maybe make 1/4 the recipe just in case it doesn’t come out how you would like 🙂