Summer Pesto and Gruyere Stuffed Challah | The Nosher

Step 1

To make the pesto:

Step 2

Place garlic scapes, garlic clove, spinach, basil and parsley in a food processor fitted with blade attachment. Start pulsing. Drizzle olive oil and continue to pulse. Scrape down sides with rubber spatula, add salt and pepper to taste and pulse until desired smoothness.

Step 3

Place in an air-tight container until ready to use.

Step 4

*Note: after steaming spinach, make sure to remove excess water very thoroughly.

Step 5

To make the challah:

Step 6

In a small bowl, place yeast, 1 tsp sugar and lukewarm water. Allow to sit around 10 minutes, until it becomes foamy on top.

Step 7

In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar. After the water-yeast mixture has become foamy, add to flour mixture along with oil. Mix thoroughly.

Step 8

Add another cup of flour and eggs until smooth. Switch to the dough hook attachment if you are using a stand mixer.

Step 9

Add another 1 1/2 cups flour and then remove from bowl and place on a floured surface. Knead remaining flour into dough, continuing to knead for around 10 minutes (or however long your hands will last).

Step 10

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with damp towel. Allow to rise 3-4 hours.

Step 11

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 12

After the challah is done rising, roll out dough into a large rectangle about ½-1 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. The challah dough may need an extra dusting of flour to work with at this point.

Step 13

Spread a thin, very even layer of pesto all over the dough. You may have extra pesto leftover.  Sprinkle gruyere or goat cheese in an even layer on top of pesto, leaving ½ inch border all around.

Step 14

Working quickly, start rolling up the dough towards you. Try and keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Pinch the end and tuck under when you finish.

Step 15

Create a pinwheel shaped-challah by snaking the dough around and around in a circle around itself. When finished, tuck the end under the challah neatly and pinch lightly. This doesn't have to be perfect.

Step 16

Alternatively, you can split challah into three even sections and then roll into snakes. Flatten each piece slightly, and fill with pesto and cheese. Pinch ends back up tightly and roll out slightly. Braid as usual. Makes two challot if you use this method

Step 17

Allow challah to rise another 30-60 minutes, or until you can see the size has grown.

Step 18

Beat 1 egg yolk with 1 tsp water. Brush liberally over challah. If desired, combine 2 tsp thick sea salt with 1 tsp sesame seeds, 1 tsp dried basil and 1 tsp dried parsley and sprinkle on top of egg wash.

Step 19

Bake for 26-27 minutes, or until middle looks like it has just set, and the color is golden.