Challah is often cited as one of the most popular Jewish foods. A delicious, braided egg bread served on Shabbat, traditionally by Ashkenazi communities, it is clear that challah has been heavily influenced by other European braided breads. The significance of the braiding has to do with auspicious numbers, such as using seven strands to signify seven days of the week, or 12 strands for the 12 tribes.
The primary element of challah that makes it uniquely Jewish is its lack of dairy ingredients — unlike virtually all other European braided breads. This is due to kosher laws — if you make bread with dairy in it for Shabbat dinner, you won’t be able to eat meat products along with it. For that reason, traditional challah typically uses dairy alternatives like oil or even nut or soy milks, instead.
It’s also worth noting that while challah can be made on the sweeter side, especially for the High Holidays, it often is far less sweet than its relations.
Allow me to introduce you to challah’s delicious European cousins — if this doesn’t inspire you to have a braided bread binge baking session, there might be something wrong.
Vanočka/Vianočka
A braided bread meant for Christmas (Vanoce/Vianoce) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, this rich and delicious loaf is chock-full of decadent ingredients, including butter, slivered almonds, raisins, milk, and eggs. Variations call for ingredients like lemon peel, anise, and cloves. It looks very similar to challah, but some cooks braid it in a somewhat layered manner, with strands stacked atop one another. It can be purchased year-round in both countries at grocery stores, but those are typically factory-made versions that pale in comparison to the homemade delicacy.
Some home bakers make an Easter version of this bread that is essentially the same, but shaped in a circle.
Pleteno Srce
Slovenia specializes in a braided bread in the shape of a heart called pleteno srce. This braided bread’s uniqueness is primarily its ornamental shape, which can be as simple as a braid shaped into a heart, or elaborate with small flourishes and dough decor placed throughout at the baker’s discretion. It’s typically given as a special occasion gift to family and friends —though it’s often is so beautiful it’s hard to justify eating it!
Kulich/Kalacs/Colac/Kolač/Cozonac
This enriched, braided bread hails from countries such as Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary and is referred to by several different names (see above). However, there are nuances between each kind. The Hungarian kalacs is often swirled with cinnamon or walnuts, and is traditionally eaten on Easter. Bulgarian cozonac adds lemon zest to the dough, and Russian kulich is baked in trademark cylindrical cones with frosting and floral decor on top.
Brioche
Though challah has more of a connection to Central and Eastern European breads, it’d be remiss not to mention this classic French bread that frequently takes a braided form. Rich with milk and butter, brioche is often nibbled at breakfast along with a strong cafe au lait, or as an afternoon snack. The baking process involves a second rising after punching it down once, as well as a method of folding in the butter in small pieces (typically with a chilled knife, one piece at a time), so brioche, while appearing simple, is actually one of the more challenging sweet breads to bake.
Now, go forth and indulge in delicious braided carbs!
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FAQs
Challah loaves are often braided. The three strands of the braid may represent truth, peace and justice.
What is the braided bread eaten by Jews? ›
Challah is an enriched white yeasted bread served on Fridays. More specifically, it's eaten on the Jewish sabbath (which starts on Friday at sunset and ends after dark on Saturday). Challah also plays an important role on certain Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
What is similar to challah bread? ›
Yes, challah bread is similar to brioche. Challah bread is typically a Jewish bread that is kosher with no dairy in it. On the other hand, brioche is a french bread made with similar ingredients and it included butter rather than an oil such as vegetable oil. Overall, they taste pretty similar.
What is challah and what does it Symbolise? ›
The term “challah” is applied more widely to mean any bread used in Jewish rituals. On the eve of Shabbat, two loaves are placed on the table to reference the Jewish teaching that a double portion of manna fell from heaven on Friday to last through the Saturday Shabbat.
Why do Jews eat challah? ›
Challah Bread is Equally as Delicious as it is Symbolic
This commandment is called the hafrashat challah. Moreover, on some occasions a blessing is said over two loaves of bread, symbolizing the two portions of the manna that was distributed on Fridays to the children of Israel during their Exodus from Egypt.
What does the Bible say about challah bread? ›
In the Bible, challah is the portion of bread that is set aside and given to the priests to eat (Numbers 15:19-20). The mitzvah of separating challah applies to the five grains, wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye. The rabbis calculate that more than 1.75 kg of dough baked at one time must have challah taken from it.
Why is challah not kosher? ›
In halachic terms, challah is a mitzvah in the Torah to separate a portion of dough from the baker's batch. Any dough meeting the requirements for hafrashat challah , taking challah, must have this portion removed, or the bread baked from this dough is not considered kosher.
Which is better challah or brioche? ›
Both breads are rich, eggy yeast breads, but brioche is definitely richer. (Butter will do that). Challah, by the way, is often a braided loaf. Both make excellent French toast and bread pudding.
Are challah and babka the same? ›
Babka is another braided white bread that is usually served with a cinnamon filling and syrup. But unlike challah, which includes eggs and oil, babka dough contains eggs, butter and milk, making it more airy, shiny and smooth.
Why is challah so special? ›
Outside of the temple, all Israelites, during the process of baking bread, were required to set aside a loaf (challah) of bread “as a gift to the Eternal” (Num. 15: 20), which the prophet Ezekiel interpreted as being donations to the priests (Ezek. 44: 30).
During Passover, Jews refrain from eating leavened bread, known as 'chametz', as a symbol of the haste with which our ancestors left Egypt where they didn't even have time to let their bread rise. Instead, they eat unleavened bread called 'matzah' to commemorate this event. 👍🏻 Like and save if you learned something new.
What is the blessing for eating challah? ›
Before taking the first bite of food, the following blessing is recited: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.
How do you eat braided challah? ›
Challah is excellent toasted, with just a bit of fresh butter, it makes marvelous stuffed french toast or bread pudding, and it works really well in sandwiches, just like any other bread.
Do you let challah rise after braiding? ›
It's important to complete this final rise; otherwise the braids may pull apart too much in baking.
What does it mean when challah braids lose? ›
If the challahs are left to rise for over an hour plus, then they will lose their shape or sometimes poof and fall flat during the baking process. Another good tip is to sprinkle a very small, fine layer of flour over the strands of dough, directly before shaping them.
