Pretzels
Germany
“Each year, millions of people descend on Munich, Germany, in late September for the largest folk festival in the world: Oktoberfest. Unfortunately, Oktoberfest was canceled this year (the 25th time this has happened since the event started in 1810, most of the other cancellations were due to disease outbreaks or war), but that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating at home. While beer is the star of the show, pretzels are the next most important. The recipe below is one that I have made with my father and grandfather, who is of German descent, for many years. Enjoy these pretzels until you can go to Germany again!“
--Alex LeGore - ActivSport Travel Trip Leader (and Director of Sales & Marketing)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees F)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 1/4 tsp. (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour
2 ounces unsalted butter (melted)
Vegetable oil (for the bowl and pan)
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk (beaten with 1 tablespoon water)
Pretzel salt (or coarse sea salt)
Instructions
Combine the 1 1/2 cups warm water, the sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside for 5 minutes, or until the mixture foams.
Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, 4 to 5 minutes. (If you don’t have a stand mixer or dough hook attachment, knead manually)
Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl, then oil it well. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.
Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with oil. Set aside.
Bring the 10 cups water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in a 12-inch straight-sided saute pan or a roasting pan (something wide and shallow is best).
Meanwhile, turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, and, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place on a half sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
One by one, place the pretzels in the boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return them to the sheet pans, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture, and sprinkle with pretzel salt.
Bake until dark golden brown in color, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.
