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Eggless Challah Bread (Vegan)

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Eggless Challah bread is an easy egg-free and vegan version of the famous Challah bread from the Jewish cuisine. This is one of the best Vegan Challah bread which uses minimum pantry ingredients and is soft and yummy.

Eggless Challah Bread


Challah

Challah basically means a loaf of bread or a cake. Challot, Challah, challoth or challos is a special breaded bread from the Jewish Cuisine. Typically eaten for ceremonial occasions such as shabbat or major Jewish Holidays. 


Water Challah

Traditional recipes call for eggs, flour, water, sugar, yeast, oil, and salt. However, we do have challah made without eggs and is called “Water Challah”. Some ritual purposes prefer egg-free bread and hence it exists. Though they might not be referred to as challah but considered variants of regional bread. (Source wiki).

Eggless Challah Bread


Braiding of Challah

I was fascinated by the way this bread looks. When I first saw this, I was in love with it. The way these beauties are braided. Each and every bread have a different pattern. It’s an art and adds some fun to your bread making.

The braiding is easy, it is just that you need to follow the steps properly.  Once the dough is made it is then rolled into rope-shaped pieces and then braided. One can have different styles of braiding.

The strands can go from 3-4-5-6-7-8-9 to much more. I am using a simple braiding here as it was my first one. Was successfully able to do the braiding in the second go.

What I did was, I divided the dough to make 2 loaves and made one 4 braided and the other 6. I enjoyed doing this and loved the 4 one more than the 6.  I followed this tutorial here which is very clear and concise.

Eggless Challah Bread


Types of challah

There are many variants of challah bread. One can make sweet challah by adding raisins, saffron, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, etc in the dough. Savoury Challah recipes can have different herbs like Dill, Zaatar spice, different types of cheese, pesto, etc. Just play around once you get the basic challah right.


Different Bread recipes almost same ingredients

If you see my bread recipes or my series  A-Z International Flatbreads Series you will find that many of the recipes call for the same ingredients. But still the texture, the taste is so different. The ratio of ingredients, time, method of proofing, and the way of cooking makes a lot of difference. 


Recipe process of Eggless Challah Bread or Vegan Challah Bread

This challah uses simple everyday ingredients for bread making. It uses flour, sugar, oil, lukewarm water, salt and yeast. I have used all-purpose flour here, but my next try would be with whole wheat flour.


Rest the process is very simple and similar to other bread except the second proofing time is much less. However, the proofing time will vary depending on climate too.


The challah came out so beautiful and perfectly baked. I have used milk for brushing the bread to get the lovely golden brown colour. Vegans can use any vegan milk or use maple syrup for the shiny lust.  Also whenever I bake bread, once baked I immediately apply some butter. This helps the bread to stay soft. But this is completely optional. 

Eggless Challah Bread


This bread can be enjoyed with simple butter, jam, or any spicy homemade chutney. We enjoyed this bread in Breakfast with some tea and for lunch with some spicy egg curry.


I have baked this bread as a monthly theme for a Bread Bakers in October 2018, an event hosted by Karen from Karen’s Kitchen Stories.  She gave us the challenge to make bread from Middle Eastern cuisine. Karen has different types of Challah bread on her blog. I love her Section Challah bread. I am sure to bake this bread sooner than later.  


Today I am just updating the contents of this post to give my readers more information about what is challah and braiding related to it. I am also sharing this with our Foodies_RedoingOldPost


Eggless Challah Bread

Eggless Challah Bread (Vegan)

Eggless Challah bread is an easy, soft and delicious egg-free and vegan version of the famous Challah bread from the Jewish cuisine.
4.75 from 28 votes
Print Pin Rate Save
Course: Breakfast, Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: Bakes, Bread, EggLess, Vegan
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Resting Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 2 Loaf
Author: Renu Agrawal-Dongre

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 Cup All purpose Flour / Maida / Plain Flour
  • 1/4 Cup plus 1/4 tsp Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup Oil (Vegetable or Canola)
  • 1 1/4 C Lukewarm water
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2 1/4 tsp 1 packet, active Dry yeast
  • Optional: Milk, Maple Syrup for an egg-free shine (I used Milk – Vegans can use any vegan milk)

Instructions

  • Place Luke warm water in mixing bowl. Add yeast and 1/4 tsp sugar, mixing gently. Let yeast proof for about 10 minutes.
  • If the yeast has not proofed discard and start again.
  • In a large bowl or your add in the yeast and vegetable oil and mix. To this add in the flour, sugar and salt. 
  • Knead the dough by hand or using a dough beater in an electric mixer. 
  • If the dough is not holding together as a ball, add a bit more oil or water. If the dough is very sticky, add more flour. (But try to limit this, add only if necessary.) 
  • Turn the ball out onto a floured work surface and punch a few times until very smooth. 
  • Place in greased/Oiled bowl and cover and keep it aside to rise until double in size. Around 1 to 1.5 hour. 
  • After the dough has double in size, punch down the ball in the bowl and remove any air bubbles. Divide the dough into 2 equal size portions and braid using your preferred method. 
    Braiding of Eggless Challah Bread
  • Set aside on a baking tray to rise for 20-30 minutes.  Just before baking brush the top with milk or maple syrup.
  • Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
  • After removing from the oven, apply some butter. (Optional)

Notes

  • 1 Cup = 235 ml, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp = 5 ml
 
Tried this recipe?Share your feedback @cookwithrenu_ad or tag #cookwithrenu_ad
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.


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#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. Our theme this month is Breakfast Breads. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove at gmail.com.

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Check out the delicious Middle Easter Bakes by our fellow bloggers
 


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Recipe Rating




Claudia

Wednesday 22nd of November 2023

Would this work in a bread machine ?

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Saturday 25th of November 2023

I have not tried it as I do not have one, so cannot comment. You can give it a try.

deborah davis

Friday 19th of February 2021

dough was way too wet and sticky even with added flour. good flavor, though.

professor Kass

Monday 6th of September 2021

@Renu Agrawal Dongre, I tried it just now way too sticky for my kitchen aid mixer with dough hook. next time I will use less water. I had to add an additional 2 cups of flour

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Saturday 20th of February 2021

I am sorry to hear that your dough was too wet. Hope there is no error in measurements, as many have tried this with success.

Mary Ann.Marshall

Tuesday 22nd of September 2020

I made this on Sunday. My family and I loved it. This is the best challah bread I have ever made. Thank you!

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Tuesday 22nd of September 2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. Glad you and your family liked it.

Janhavi

Saturday 19th of September 2020

I tried this recipe today,came out good! Took this for our Jewish Friend's Rosh HaShanah celebration! They said can't belive its eggless!!

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Saturday 19th of September 2020

Wow that is so nice to know. Glad you and your friends liked it. Would appreciate if you even rate the recipe by clicking on stars, in recipe card. Thank You

Archana

Friday 21st of August 2020

Love the bread Renu absolutely delicious. I did not know there was a water challah. Now I know what I want to try next.