1️⃣ Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add 2-3 drops of lemon juice and your Lucky Iron Fish or Leaf and continue boiling fo 10 minutes. Your Lucky Iron Water is ready. We will only be needing ¾ cup for this recipe, but you can use the rest in other dishes or drink it as is.
2️⃣ In a large bowl, mix the yeast, water and 2 tbsp of sugar. Let it stand for 10 minutes till its foamy.
3️⃣ In the meantime, whisk together the eggs, salt, oil and remaining sugar. (Leave the egg yolk for later!)
4️⃣ Once the yeast mixture is nice and foamy, add in the flour as well as the egg mixture. Gently knead for ~10 minutes until you have an elastic dough.
5️⃣ Coat the dough with a little bit of oil. Then cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit in a warm place for 60-90 minutes. It should double in size by then.
6️⃣ Toss the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 equal portions. Roll each piece out till it looks like a thick rope.
7️⃣ We would try and explain how to braid the dough but it will seriously be easier if you just look up a video on this 😅
8️⃣ Transfer the braided loaf onto a baking tray lined with parchment. Cover the loaf and let rise again for another hour.
9️⃣ Whisk the egg yolk and brush it onto the loaf. Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds if you want!
🔟 Bake on the middle rack @ 350 for 30 minutes. (You can place another baking tray under the one with the loaf to prevent any burning at the bottom!).
There you have it!!! Iron-Enriched Challah Bread for everyone to feast over! 😍
