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Short Summary
Main recommendation: Shape a four-strand round challah by weaving four roughly equal ropes of dough over and under each other into a circle, then tuck the ends underneath so the loaf can rise evenly. The host notes the round weave can be made larger or smaller, and that the method is simple once learned.
Key Points
- The four ropes are placed in a cross, with two running one direction and two laid over them, then woven using a basic over-under pattern.
- Each strand that is under passes over its neighbor, creating a repeating two-two-two-two pattern.
- After weaving in one direction, the pattern is reversed (counterclockwise, then back clockwise) to complete the round braid.
- Excess dough at the end is evened out and tucked underneath the loaf.
- The host tucks free-form so the dough rises evenly on the top, bottom, and sides.
Details Worth Noting
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Concrete instructions:
- Start with four ropes of dough of roughly the same size; the size of the strands does not matter.
- Place two ropes horizontally and two laid on top of them, forming a cross.
- Weave: take the strand that is on top and move it under its neighbor; alternately, the strand that is under goes over its neighbor. Repeat so the pattern is two, two, two, two.
- Reverse the weave direction (counterclockwise) by again passing each under strand over its neighbor, then go back clockwise.
- Even out any excess length at the end of the shaping.
- Tuck all ends underneath the loaf so it rises all around.
- The loaf can be made as large or small as desired.
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A companion remarks she loves the six-strand braid, and the host notes she used the four-strand version here just as an example.
Bottom Line
A four-strand round challah is a simple over-under weave that can be scaled to any size, and the ends are tucked underneath so the bread rises evenly.
