Sourdough Challah (coconut & cardamom)

I made my first Challah last year around Easter. This mesmerizing braided bread was all over Instagram and I got to know about it more through my close IG baking family (Yes I have got more virtual friends than real friends now, hoping to meet them in the flesh one day). I made one as a trial and I was hooked. Then I moved onto the sourdough version.

This bread is amazing, so many variations! You can create a masterpiece with it that fits any special occasion. I find it closer to a brioche but oil replacing all the butter. And I experimented with different flavors and textures, with milk, without milk and so far I liked all variations.

This version however uses coconut milk and cardamom, a spice that I love. But, I know not everyone is a fan of cardamom, so you can skip that completely and this bread will be just as delicious. If you like cardamom buns, then you will like this.

I tested this same challah with a sweet coconut filling in it. The recipe and the process is the same except that the strands are each stuffed with a nice coconut, maple syrup mixture. Check the bottom of the recipe/ post for the variation.

Cardamom:

To get the maximum flavor, you need quality cardamom powder. If you have cardamom pods, even better. I always get the seeds out of the pods and grind them up using a mortar and pestle.

Oil:

I used canola oil. You can use vegetable oil too. If you wan to use coconut oil, use a little less as I find coconut oil makes the crumb bit denser. Also some coconut oils are very pungent, so be aware of that! I love the coconut smell and flavor of the oil, but some find it too overpowering.

Coconut milk:

I used canned, full-fat coconut milk, not coconut cream. If are lucky enough to find freshly squeezed coconut milk, then by all means use it! Some brands have more coconut flavor than others.

Sugar:

I used dark brown sugar. You can use white sugar or light brown sugar, the crumb will be of a lighter color, flavor wise you wouldn't notice a difference. Use coconut sugar as a wholesome option, this wouldn't affect the flavor much.

Flour:

All purpose flour is the best. It gives a softer crumb which we like in a bread like this. Usually eaten with butter or made into french toasts. You can use bread flour, but the texture will be different as bread flour has more gluten. The bread will be chewy and less soft.

Onto the steps:

Use fed matured starter to make this stiff starter. Mix everything and knead into a nice smooth ball and place in a container and cover loosely. Leave on the counter overnight or about 8 - 10 hours. when it is spongy like this, you will know it's ready

Weigh everything except for the water, into the mixing bowl. See my half cup of water is still on the bench ready to go. First mix everything on low speed, once they start to come together, gradually add water. Once everything is hydrated and the dough becomes sticky, stop adding water. If it feels too wet, just add a tablespoon of flour, nothing to worry!

This is the sticky dough. As you can see, it is soft but most home mixers will not be able to handle it. So when it comes to this stage, take it out on to a floured surface and knead by hands. Use slap and fold to bring it together. A few folds and the dough will start to look smooth.

Do not over mix, it will go right back to sticky stage. If you accidentally did that, let the dough rest for 30 minutes and fold again and this time stop when it is just smooth.

It took about 4 hours in a 23C temperature.

Look at the next picture to see the bulked dough

It doesn't have to be exactly doubled. Look for the above texture rather than volume.

You can always skip this process and move on to shaping, proofing and baking on the same day. Let the dough rest about 30 minutes in the fridge for better shaping.

Soft buttery (oily) doughs are easier to handle when cold

Divide this dough into any number of pieces you want.

You can decide how many strands you want for your Challah 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 etc

I'm going with 5

Check bottom for a slightly modified versionRoll each dough piece to a log as shown in the picture. Put pressure and roll out tightly. Try to get all the air out. Dough should feel solid, without any air trapped in it.

let them rest for 5 minutes and roll again stretching sideways to lengthen them. Get them as long as you prefer.

They don't have to be this shape, yours can be all the same width all along.

I am aiming for a 3D braid, that's why I shaped my pieces like this.

Make sure to braid loosely. The dough will proof once more and also there will be oven spring.

Once done, place on a tray and proof for another 3-4 hours in a warm place until ready to bake

Preheat the oven to 375 F

Egg wash and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Check at halfway mark. If top is browning quickly, cover top with foil, or reduce temperature slightly. Rotate the baking tray to bake evenly.

Let this cool on a wire rack.

A variation if you want to try:

Here I have stuffed each strand with a sweet coconut mixture. Make this mixture while the dough is bulking.

1 cup desiccated coconut (dehydrated) or fresh coconut

1/3 cup maple syrup ( "kithul treacle" if you can find)

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp castor sugar

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

pinch of salt

In a shallow saucepan bring maple syrup and sugars in to a boil and stir until sugar dissolve. Add the coconut, cardamom and salt and cook stirring on low heat until most of the moisture is evaporated ( should not be runny) let cool completely

Check my 5 strand braiding video here