Hi all,
This was my latest attempt at homemade pretzels. I've recently become a lye convert and am really enjoying the results. I still need to work on the pretzel twisting and for next time I'll add a little butter to the dough, but they were good!!
The little 'bites' were stuffed with peanut butter prior to dipping/baking...i think their nicknames were 'gone in 60 seconds'!
For full details and images, check out my blog at makebread.net!
For full details and images, check out my blog at makebread.net!
The basic dough is from my 'no fail bread' recipe:
- 500g Flour
- 300g Warm Milk
- 12g Salt
- 15g Sugar
- 1 packet yeast
The process is basically like this:
- Combine the dry and wet & knead until you can pass the windowpane test.
- Let the dough relax and the the dough rise for about an hour
- Punch down and cut in to 8 equal pieces, let rest for 15 minutes
- Roll in to approximately 16 inch snakes
- For in to pretzel shape
- Dip in your lye solution
- Place in a parchment paper lined baking sheet and add salt
- Bake
Lastly, enjoy!!
if I may make a suggestion or 2...
Please emphasize that when mixing caustic soda that you add the dry power into the water and not the other way round. Pouring water onto dry caustic can create instant boiling and splatter you with hot caustic. Not a wise move. I'd also suggest a full face visor too. You really do not want caustic in your eyes no matter how carefully you dip the pretzels in - one day you might drop one rather than dip it and ...
This sort: http://www.screwfix.com/p/portwest-premium-face-shield-browguard-clear/7670d
And please keep using gloves. It sounds like you stopped using them in your blog post. The caustic will turn any fats on your skin into soap - which is fine, but it'll really dry your hands out in the long-run and cause worse damage if you don't rinse it off immediately. Bear in-mind that caustic has been used to disolve animals and also humans (by criminals to get rid of the bodys)
Good looking pretzels though! They're on my to-do list. One day soon...
-Gordon
Thanks for the input, drogan.
It is true that lye can be dangerous and don't think that I am throwing caution to the wind when I make these. I advocate safety 1st and don't mean to make it sound like being chemically burned is 'no big deal' but I do think that it's no more dangerous than a boiling pot of water. You just have to respect the lye as much as you respect boiling water.