Soft Pretzels #894 7/08

Categories:
breads, hot dogs, New 2008, sandwich

1 1/2 cups warm water; 110 to 115 degrees
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups flour
4 tablespoon unsalted butter; melted
vegetable oil; for pan
10 cups Water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk; beaten with 1 TB water
pretzel salt
hot dogs; optional

Combine the water, sugar , and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and , using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside. Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8 qt. saucepan or roasting pan. In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24 inch rope. Make a U shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press into the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment lined pans. Now would be the time to take some of this dough and wrap around hot dogs and do same procedure as pretzels. Place the pretzles into the boiling water, 1 by 1 for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving. These freeze up very well. Hot dogs too. 11/08 Rolled some of the dough into 3" circles and put a dollop of peanut butter in the center, rolled up into a ball and finished as above. VERY good.

Contributor: Alton Brown

Yield: 8 pretzels