Purim Onion-Poppy Ring

Onion and poppy – how do I love thee!  Let me count the Jewy ways to your Jewish Jewy goodness.  Whether it’s on a pletzl or a bagel or here, there is something utterly old-world and PERFECT about the combination.  Whereas lemon-poppy strikes me as innately goyish.  Strange!

I already did a step-by-step for this recipe last year, but what the heck… Maggie Glezer lists this as a “beginner” bread in her Blessings of Bread book, but I really don’t think so.  In terms of the dough, it’s simple; in terms of technique – hardly.  So here we go!

Two ballies… basic “Czernowitzer Challah” recipe from the book.

Become two snakes…

  

Become roadkill.

 

I used purple onions this year, and judging from the pics, they’re not as finely diced as last year.  Or perhaps last year, I fried them… I dunno.  I did use butter last year and for whatever reason, I opted for oil this year.  I wouldn’t say the loaf suffered at all from being pareve instead of dairy.

 

Shmear half on each roadkill snake.

 

Roll and pinch them up into snakes again.

Cross the snakes in the middle and get ready to wrap and roll!

 

Let’s do the TWIST…

  

And now twist the other end… it’s getting a bit messy where filling has started to goober out the end.

 

Pinch the messy ends together and try to make it look slightly elegant.  Fail.

 

Aaaagh!  Using all of your seven  hands, transfer the soft, floppy, falling-aparty wreath shape to the baking pan to rise and cover well.

 

Fully risen, time to shmear with egg wash.

 

Sprinkle with poppy to disguise how messy the loaf looks.

 

And bake to perfection!!!  Notice it’s come open in a few places.  Once again, nobody complained.

 

Mmmm… realize it might be helpful to see the inside before it’s all gone and take a quick shot before digging in.

Another delicious, simple Purim seudah made complete with delicious bread.