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History gives the nod to the invention of the pretzel by a Monk who resided in either Northern Italy or Southern France. But it sure didn't take long to make it's way across the Alps to Bavaria where the Pretzel (or Brezl) was perfected, in my opinion, by the Germans. All over Bavaria one can find delicious pretzels. Especially large at Oktoberfest, they are slightly crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. All around Munich you will see people enjoying a mid-morning breakfast of these wonderful Brez'n accompanied by a tall Weissbier (Wheat Bier) and Weisswurst (white sausages) with sweet mustard. You have to try it!
The recipe below is quite popular with my friends and is the best pretzel recipe I have come across. Enjoy!
Dissolve yeast in 1/8-cup warm water. Stir in 1 1/3 cups warm water, 1/3-cup brown sugar and flour. Knead dough until smooth and elastic. You can let the dough rise for a half hour or so but it is not required.
Heat oven to 475°f / 245°c. In a saucepan, measure 2 tablespoons baking soda to each cup of water. Put enough water to fill the saucepan at least 3 inches high. Bring soda and water mixture to a light boil and set heat to simmer. Make sure the baking soda is well disolved.
Tear off some dough and roll a long thick pencil shape with your hands. Pick up both ends, cross to form rabbit ears and then twist the ends and pull them back to the rest of the loop. Place aside on lightly floured surface and let rise a few minutes.
Place pretzels one at a time in water/baking soda mixture for 10 seconds on each side or until the pretzel dough is light yellow in color. Remove the pretzel from boiling water and place onto a salted a cookie sheet.
Salt the top of pretzels with course ground sea salt. Place cookie sheet with pretzels into the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until pretzel is golden brown. Enjoy while warm.
I recommend Dusseldorfer style mustard. Great with German Weisswurst and a Weissbier!
Notes: Do not refrigerate this dough, it will become unworkable. Also, do not try to make pretzels as big as in the picture. About 6" in diameter is fine.
If you got to this page by searching for Pretzel Recipes on the Internet, then hit the home button below to check out my home page about Munich's Oktoberfest.
