"Everything" Pletzel (Onion Board Bread)
inpatskitchen

Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- one 9-x-13-inch loaf
The pletzel is a Jewish flatbread similar to focaccia, normally topped with onion and poppy seeds. It's also referred to as an "onion board." I added a few extra toppings to turn it in to an "Everything" pletzel!
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (100 to 120° F)
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 to 3 cup bread flour
For the topping and finishing:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoon poppy seeds
- The previously made dough
- 1/2 tablespoon Kosher salt
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This is super low-maintenance for bread! There's no need to knead or any long-rising times. Once baked, the inside was soft and fluffy with a nice texture, while the crust of the bread was quite crunchy and snappy, rather than chewy. I had a bit of trouble with it sticking to the pan, so be sure to grease it well. The other thing I found was that the onions on top started to burn before the bread was baked, but I just covered the pan with foil for the last 15 minutes to keep them from browning too much.
Directions
For the bread:
- Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
- Step 2
Stir in the beaten egg, oil, and salt. Gradually add the flour, starting with about 2 cups. Add more flour as needed until you get a soft but slightly sticky dough. Cover and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
For the topping and finishing:
- Step 1
To make the topping, gently sauté the onions in the olive oil until lightly browned. Once there, take the pan off the heat and grate in the garlic (use a microplane or garlic press). Stir in the sesame and poppy seeds and let cool to room temperature.
- Step 2
Generously oil a 9-x-13-inch baking pan and spread the rested dough in. I use wet hands to make the spreading easier.
- Step 3
Spread the onion and seed topping over the loaf and then sprinkle with the salt. Use a little more if you like your "everything" salty.
- Step 4
Let the bread rest for about 30 minutes and then bake in a 400° F preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Best served warm.