Making pretzels is not as hard as you think, It's actually quite easy and take less active time than making a loaf of bread. I used fresh milled bread flour and followed the recipe from Joshua Weissman. They freeze really well, just need to heat up in 350°F oven for 10 minutes.
INGREDIENTS:
Dough:
4 cup flour (632g)
1g diastatic malt powder (optional)
12g salt
1.5. tablespoons (13g) instant yeast
1.5 cups (365g) water percent lukewarm water @ 95f 35c
1.5 tablespoon (21g) butter softened
Lye Solution (please use a food scale to be accurate here):
1000g cold water
30g lye beads (this equates to a 3% solution)
Baking Soda Alternative to Lye (be aware that your pretzels will be different in color and flavor if you go this route):
1000g cold water 60g baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS:
Primed Yeast
Mix yeast and water. Let sit in warm area ten minutes before using.
Dough
Incorporate yeast and water mix into dry ingredient bowl using medium-low speed.
Gradually add butter, then mix 2-3 more minutes until fully mixed and elastic.
Proof for 15 minutes with damp towel on top.
Divide do into 8 pieces weighing 127 g.
Lightly shape dough in a fat log 4 in or 10 cm long.
Place in baking sheet greased with oil. Cover with damp towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes.
When shaping pretzel dough, start from center, increase pressure as you reach ends to get a tapered effect until getting a long tapered torpedo 20 in or 50 cm long (think about a giant earthworm here, fat in the middle skinny on the ends).
Take the two ends, bring them together, gently cross over each other.
Twist end pieces once, gently bring it down to front and attach those legs to the base line on oiled sheet tray, cover and proof for 30 min.
Put in fridge to cool, prep lye solution LYE SOLUTION: 1000 g cold water to 30g of food grade lye beads. Whisk until all are dissolved. IMPORTANT: USE GLOVES!
Drop in solution 10 seconds per side. Place on wire rack setup over drain excess lye mixture. Make sure rack is greased otherwise it sticks.
Slash base or thickest part of pretzel with razor blade
Finish with flaky salt, then bake at 425° F or 218° C for 15-20 min or until golden brown.
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