This recipe was given to us from Neomi Gniwisch who got it from Sara Maybergs who got it from Mrs. Schwartz…
There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread filling the house before Shabbat, and Sara Mayberg’s Water Challah brings that timeless comfort straight to your kitchen. If you love a loaf with a beautifully crisp exterior and a light, airy crumb, this recipe is for you. By skipping the heavy egg-based dough of traditional challahs, it lets the pure, comforting flavors of the bread shine through—making it the ultimate canvas for dipping into matbucha, hummus, or your favorite weekend stews.
Sara Maybergs Water Challah
Servings
1 loaf
Ingredients
- 5 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 3 1/4-ounce packets yeast or 2 ounces fresh
- 1 bag of 5 lbs flour
- 10 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon coarse salt
Instructions
- Mix 5 cups warm water with 2 tablespoons sugar and 3 packets of yeast, let sit until bubbly. Then add half a bag of 5 lbs of flour. Don’t mix just dump it in. It will take about half and hour and will activate.
- Start your mixer and add 10 tablespoons sugar, more flour as needed (pretty much the whole bag) and 2 tablespoons coarse salt. Let it rise after.
- Then braid and rise, I like to coat each strand with a little olive oil and some on the bottom. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes.
Where is the oil? Has anyone made this and can verify that it does need the oil?
Sure, you just will have to knead by hand. A packet of yeast has 2 1/4 teaspoons or 7 grams.
2 Questions: I don’t have a stand mixer. Can this be done by hand? If yes, can you tell me how much is in a packet of yeast, since in Israel they don’t come in packets but larger amounts. Tia!
I am so happy to have found this recipe! I haven’t made challah since I went vegan. I used to make challah based off of one of your youtube videos (it was amazing). I can’t wait to try this. Thank you!
2 large challahs
Does this make one challah or two?
This Challah is DELICIOUS!
I usually try and do 50/50 with whole wheat and white flour and that should be fine here.
can i use whole wheat flour with this recipe?
No oil in this challah?? Doesn’t it come out dry?!
Chanie, the Bosch holds 5 pounds of flour. The magic mill can take even more flour, but I found it to be very hard to use for cakes. I’ve had the magic mill, kitchen aid and bosch, so I consider myself a semi-expert 🙂
how many challah’s do u get from this recipe?
and what does this mean? “It will take about half and hour and will activate.” and what kind of mixer takes 5lb of flour at one time? would love to get it.
Does this challah freeze well?
Bread flour is best. I actually got the recipe from Mrs Wuensch.
What kind of flour? Bread flour probably works best for bread, right?