Parisian Pletzl Recipes

GRANDMA EVA'S ONION BOARD (PLETZEL)

Steps:

• Make a paste with 1/2 cup warm water and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Place yeast mixture into 4 cup of flour combine with the salt in a large bowl and mix together.
• In a separate bowl mix sugar, oil, additional 1 cup of warm water, 1 cup of flour, and 3/4s of the beaten eggs (reserving 1/4 of them for glazing the top of the pletzel).
• Add the sugar/oil/flour/egg mixture to the flour/yeast mixture and mix together with hands (great tools!).
• Place on floured surface and knead slightly until dough comes together.
• Place in clean oiled bowl, covered with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place for 1 hour.
• Punch down and knead again, place back in bowl and allow to rise for 15 minutes.
• Grease two sheet pans (cookie sheets with raised sides or jelly roll pans).
• Cut dough in half and pat each 1/2 into a sheet pan with the dough slightly raised around the sides.
• Brush each with remaining egg, sprinkle each with half of the sauteed onions with the olive oil remaining (patting into the dough), and sprinkle each with half of the poppy seeds.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
• Can be served immediately as is or with butter and salt.

MRS. PELTZ'S ONION FLAT ROLLS (PLETZLACH)

Steps:

• Place flour in bowl of an electric mixer with dough paddle attached. Make a well in center and pour in 1 cup lukewarm water. Stir in yeast and 2 tablespoons sugar, and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Add egg, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, remaining sugar and the salt. Mix well until dough is soft but not sticky, adding flour if necessary. Turn into a greased bowl, and let rise again, covered, for one hour. Knead lightly, and let rise again for 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place diced onion in a small bowl, and stir in poppy seeds and remaining 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Set aside.
• Divide dough into 20 balls. On a floured board, roll each ball into a circle about 2 or 3 inches in diameter and about 1 inch thick. Sprinkle a tablespoon or so of onion-poppy seed mixture on each circle. Roll circles again, to a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. Prick each circle with a fork and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Transfer to 2 ungreased baking sheets. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

PARISIAN PLETZEL

Steps:

• Mix the water with the yeast in a large glass bowl. Add 4 cups of the flour, the eggs, 1/4 cup of the oil, the sugar, and the salt to the yeast mixture. Stir well, then turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth, adding more flour if necessary. Let the dough rise, covered with a towel, for 1 hour in a greased bowl. You can also leave the dough in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375° and grease 2 cookie sheets.
• Divide the dough into 8 balls and roll or flatten them into rounds about 5 inches in diameter. Place 4 pletzel on each cookie sheet and gently press down the centers. Brush with water and sprinkle each with about 2 tablespoons diced onions leaving a 1/2-inch border. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over the onions and sprinkle with the poppy seeds and some kosher salt. Let sit for 15 minutes, uncovered.
• Bake the pletzels for 20 minutes, switching from top to middle rack after 10 minutes, or do them in 2 shifts on the middle rack. Then stick them under the broiler for 1 minute, keeping a sharp eye on them, to brown the onions. If you don't have a broiler, raise the heat to 550° and put each sheet on the top rack for 2 minutes or so.

PARISIAN PLETZL

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup lukewarm water into a large bowl. Stir in the yeast and the sugar until dissolved. Add 4 cups flour, the eggs, 1/4 cup of the oil, and the salt. Mix well, and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth, adding more flour if necessary. Or use a food processor or a standing mixer with a dough hook. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, and let rise, covered, for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and grease two cookie sheets.
• Divide the dough into twelve balls, and roll or flatten them out into rounds about 6 inches in diameter. Put the rounds on the cookie sheets, and make thumbprints in the centers. Brush the dough with cold water, and sprinkle about 1/4 cup of onion in each indentation. Brush the rounds with the remaining vegetable oil, and sprinkle the poppy seeds on top. Let sit for 15 minutes, uncovered.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Then, if you like, slip the pletzlach under the broiler for a minute, to brown the onions. Serve lukewarm, as is or in a big pletzl sandwich.