sunday recipe 3

we're really sorry for the lack of updates. we missed foto friday, recipe sunday and a whole week of updates! unfortunately for us, there are many things that we need to get done but we are going to promise more updates starting from this one! so cheer up! and here's a recipe we tried out a couple of weeks ago!

don't we all love pretzels? does anyone remember the old betty boop cartoon where the king buys a pretzel from a man and the little coin change sequence? i loved that cartoon! 

 

anyway, on with the recipe!

I am totally addicted to all sorts of breads and Pretzels are no exception! that yeasty soft and salty taste is just the right comfort food for me. this recipe makes about 6 large soft pretzels. these aren't the kind you get at auntie anne's though.

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Soft Pretzel
(makes 6 large)

Ingredients:

1 sachet (11g) yeast
1/2 tsp white sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tbsp grapeseed oil (or olive oil/vegetable oil)
3/4 tsp salt

extra grapeseed oil for coating

soda bath ingredients:

1/4 cup baking soda 
1 1/2 cups hot water
salt to coat

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Directions:

In a small bowl, mix the yeast and 1/2 tsp sugar in the warm water. leave to work for at least 10 mins or until foamy.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt and 1/4 cup sugar. 

make a well and add the yeast mixture and oil. mix well and knead to form a dough. add 1 or 2 tsp of water if dough is dry. knead the dough till it becomes smooth.

Oil a large bowl and place the dough in. gently turn dough to coat with oil. cover the bowl with cling wrap and leave to rise until doubled in size or about an hour.

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celsius. 

Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water in a large bowl. 

when the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface or onto a length of parchment paper and divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. 

Roll each piece of dough into a long rope and twist it into the shape of a pretzel. if you can't picture the shape of a pretzel, imagine someone folding their arms  or placing your right hand on your left shoulder and vice-versa.  

(as you can see, ours didn't look very nice... lol..)

Dip each pretzel shape into the soda bath and place it on a greased or lined baking sheet. 

 

sprinkle generously with salt.

Lastly, bake in the preheated oven for 10 mins or until golden brown. 

i like it best when its eaten warm from the oven but if you want to save it for later, you can reheat it by placing it in a paper bag and misting it with water (do not let the bag get soaked) and placing it in a 250 degree celsius oven for a few mins. Be sure not to let the paper bag touch the coils in the oven or it'll catch on fire! 

Enjoy!