My Name Is Yeh's Scallion Pancake Challah Recipe

Every week, we’re spotlighting a different food blogger who’s shaking up the blogosphere with tempting recipes and knockout photography. This week, Molly Yeh of My Name Is Yeh takes the spotlight with a twist on this braided classic.

Asian Challah
Makes one large loaf

North Dakotans love challah! And I love their food too, like Lefse and dessert bars of all sorts. All of my challah here is homemade. As are my latkes, kugel, matzo balls… you get the picture. There’s not a deli in sight. Not even a bagel. I do miss bopping down to Zabar’s for babka and bagels, but on the other hand, with the necessity to make everything from scratch comes the opportunity to put my own spin on things and mash up my Chinese/ Jewish/ Midwesternness. Here is an Asian twist on my all time favorite challah. It’s inspired by the scallion pancake.

Basic Challah Dough (Based on Food 52’s Recipe)
1 tablespoon instant yeast
3/4 cups warm water
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sugar
3 cups flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cups vegetable or canola oil
2 eggs

Filling and Topping
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2-3 stalks scallions or green onions, minced
salt, pepper, and red chili flakes to taste
Egg wash: 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
A few pinches of toasted sesame seeds and black sesame seeds

Directions:

In a small bowl, proof yeast in 1/2 cup warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of sugar.While yeast is proofing, mix flour, salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar in a large bowl.

In a medium bowl, mix remaining 1/4 cup of water, honey, oil, and eggs.
Once yeast has finished proofing, add it to the flour, followed by the wet ingredients. Mix with a large wooden spoon until dough becomes too thick to stir. Empty dough onto well-floured surface and knead by hand. Knead dough until smooth and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed.
Transfer to an oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let rise for about two hours, or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375. Divide dough into three equal parts and then roll each part into a 1-foot log. Gently flatten each log so that it is about 3 inches wide. Brush each with toasted sesame oil and then sprinkle with salt, pepper, chili flakes, and scallions. Roll them up length wise like a jellyroll, and then braid.

Place the loaf on a parchment lined baking sheet and then brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds and black pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the challah is cooked through.

Photo: Molly Yeh

More recipes from bloggers we love:
My Name Is Yeh’s Brussels Sprout Latkes
The Kitchy Kitchen’s Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
The Kitchy Kitchen’s Cauliflower Gratin Recipe

What’s on your list to bake this holiday season? Tell us!