Pretzels

This is my third or maybe fourth time making pretzels. First was a total failure, I can't shape the dough, it is too sticky and the yeast didn't rise too. Second time around, I think I soak it in the wrong solution... hehehe... and finally the third is a success. At this last round, I had used bread flour instead of plain flour and the texture is more chewy and the dough is much easier to work with. So if you prefer it softer, plain flour and if you prefer it chewy, the bread flour.

Ingredients:

• 500g flour or bread flour
• 8g yeast
• 28g sugar
• 1.5 cups of warm water
• 5g salt
• 1 cup water for the soda bath
• 2 tablespoon of baking soda for the soda bath
• 3 tablespoon of melted butter for coating
• seasalt for sprinkling

Steps:

1. Mix all the ingredients except the last 4 items into the mixer and knead them till smooth and form a nice dough. Leave it to rise for about 30mins (make sure you oil the container before putting in the dough and cover the container).
2. Just 2 mins before  you are ready to shape the dough, prepare the soda bath by mixing the water and baking soda in a shallow bowl. Also leave the salt on a plate to make it easier to dip the top of the pretzel with it.
3. Also oil two baking trays or using the non stick mat.
4. Divide the dough to 12 pieces and roll them to long pieces. Then twist it, dip it in the soda bath (the entire dough) and tip the top with sea salt.
5. Preheat the oven at 220C while leaving the pretzels to rise again for about 10mins.
6. Bake the pretzels for 12-15mins. 
7. Once brown, remove from the oven immediately and coat it with the melted butter.