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Caramelised onion and goat’s cheese challah

Name: Caramelised onion and goat’s cheese challah
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: Serves 6-8
Ingredients: 250g strong white bread flour, plus extra to dust; ½ tsp fine salt; 30g caster sugar; 7g fast-action dried yeast; 100ml warm water; 30g olive oil, plus 2 tbsp; 1 medium free-range egg yolk; 250g onion (1-2), finely sliced; 80g soft goat’s cheese; Nigella seeds to sprinkle; ½ bunch chives

By: Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer

Published: 17 Nov 23
Updated: 25 Mar 24

Caramelised onion and goat’s cheese challah

This knockout onion and goat’s cheese challah from Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer is a mainstay on the menu at Honey & Co Daily in London’s Bloomsbury. Challah is a traditional Jewish recipe and loaves are typically braided.

Itamar and Sarit say: “For us, challah has always signified the coming of the weekend… It’s the bread of our people, traditionally eaten on Friday nights to bring in the Sabbath, but we now produce it all through the week because it’s so delicious. This is a real centrepiece of a loaf, decorated with chives and with caramelised onion and goat’s cheese plaited through the dough.”

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Medium
December 2023

Test kitchen approved

Serves 6-8
Hands-on time 40 min, plus 30 min proving. Oven time 30 min

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Nutrition: Per serving (for 8)

Calories: 239kcals
Fat: 11g (3.1g saturated)
Protein: 6.6g
Carbohydrates: 28g (5.9g sugars)
Fibre: 1.7g
Salt: 0.5g

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Ingredients

250g strong white bread flour, plus extra to dust
½ tsp fine salt
30g caster sugar
7g fast-action dried yeast
100ml warm water
30g olive oil, plus 2 tbsp
1 medium free-range egg yolk
250g onion (1-2), finely sliced
80g soft goat’s cheese
Nigella seeds to sprinkle
½ bunch chives

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Method

Put the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water, then add to the bowl along with the 30g oil and egg yolk. Start mixing the dough at a slow speed until it comes together into a ball, then increase the speed to high and knead for 4 minutes. Transfer the dough to a clean bowl, then cover and set aside for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the filling. Pour the 2 tbsp olive oil into a large frying pan over a low-medium heat, then add the onions with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring regularly, until softened and caramelised (14-15 minutes). Leave to cool.
Roll the dough out on a flour-dusted work surface into a 40cm x 20cm rectangle. Spread the caramelised onions all over, then crumble the goat’s cheese evenly over the top.

Cut the dough in half lengthways to form 2 long rectangles. Roll each rectangle from the longest side into a sausage or snake-like shape, trying to keep as much filling inside as possible. Scatter some nigella seeds over the top, then twist both snakes together to form a loaf. Put the chives on top or tie them loosely them around the loaf to decorate.
Dust a baking tray or a 2lb loaf tin with more flour, then put the loaf on it (or in it). Loosely cover, then leave to prove for about 30 minutes or until very soft to the touch (this may take longer in a cold room). Heat the oven to 200°C fan/gas 7.
Uncover the challah, sprinkle with a few more nigella seeds, then bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 180°C fan/gas 6 and bake for another 10 minutes. Reduce the heat again to 160°C fan/gas 4 and bake for a final 8 minutes, then remove from the oven and enjoy.