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What is challah bread and how to use it in recipes?

By Sarah Perchikoff

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 15: A chef puts freshly baked challah on a rack during the Mega Challah Bake at the local Chabad community's Kosher Festival (Koscher-Fest) on March 15, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. After a hostage crisis in a Jewish supermarket in Paris and a shooting at a synagogue in Copenhagen, the head of the Jewish council in Germany said that while Jews in Germany usually feel safe, an increase in frequency of evaulation of security measures in the country needs to be considered. His comments came in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a 'massive immigration' of European Jews to go 'home' to Israel. In response to controversy stemming from the incidents, the Chabad community of Berlin invited the public to participate in kosher cooking workshops and an opportunity to taste products such as traditional challah bread in order to experience something more of the religion's cultural aspects, in a country where many people's exposure to them is limited to associations with negative headlines and the historical weight of the Holocaust. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 15: A chef puts freshly baked challah on a rack during the Mega Challah Bake at the local Chabad community's Kosher Festival (Koscher-Fest) on March 15, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. After a hostage crisis in a Jewish supermarket in Paris and a shooting at a synagogue in Copenhagen, the head of the Jewish council in Germany said that while Jews in Germany usually feel safe, an increase in frequency of evaulation of security measures in the country needs to be considered. His comments came in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a 'massive immigration' of European Jews to go 'home' to Israel. In response to controversy stemming from the incidents, the Chabad community of Berlin invited the public to participate in kosher cooking workshops and an opportunity to taste products such as traditional challah bread in order to experience something more of the religion's cultural aspects, in a country where many people's exposure to them is limited to associations with negative headlines and the historical weight of the Holocaust. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images) /
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What is challah and how can it be used in recipes

If you’ve never had challah bread, I’m sorry you’ve been deprived of one of the best breads ever. It’s the perfect mixture of soft, chewy, and gorgeous with its braided structure (although it doesn’t have to be braided). While you can make it from scratch, it’s by no means easy. It’s best to find a good bakery (especially a Jewish bakery) and buy one from there. The first time I tried to make one…well, I ended up feeding it to the birds.

But what exactly is challah? Let’s discuss.

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Challah is a kosher bread that’s usually served at Rosh Hashanah but can also be seen during Purim and Shabbat. It’s made with eggs, water, flour, salt, and yeast with the eggs giving it its signature pale yellow color on the inside. It’s so gorgeous!

Some have add-ins like raisins, honey, or different kinds of seeds, but it really depends on what you like. I hate raisins, so I usually don’t eat a raisin one unless I’m desperate.

Challah is a Jewish kosher bread made with eggs and usually braided

If you want to get biblical (why not?), the word challah comes from the Hebrew word for portion. Jews were commanded by the Bible to separate 1/24 of their dough and give it to the Jewish priests or kohanim every Sabbath. It symbolizes giving the first of your dough to the Lord.

Ok, enough of that. Now, the fun part. Eating it! You can put this Jewish bread anywhere you would normally use white bread. Want to make a sandwich? Why not make it with challah? Looking to make some french toast? There is literally no bread better for french toast than challah! Have some challah that’s a little too dry just to eat? Throw it in a bread pudding!

I may or may not be known for just eating it plain, but anyway you eat it is the right way (please try your best to keep mayo off of it, but really…I’m not there to stop you).

If you make a holiday dish that calls for bread, try challah this year. It’s just the thing to send your recipe from good to out of this world. Mazel tov!

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What’s your favorite way to eat challah bread? Let us know in the comments below!

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