SUPER SIMPLE SOFT PRETZELS

makes 8 big ones [recipe works just as well halved for 4] cupboard to mouth within an hour!

ingredients: 1 cups lukewarm water 1 packet active instant east !"# tsp$ 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp sugar appro% 4 cups plain flour [ &'( # of a cup) plus e%tra to dust worktop]

cup bicarbonate of soda 1 beaten egg *+ melted butter [to brush over pret,els)] coarse sea salt to sprinkle as liberall as ou want!

method: preheat oven to ""-.'4"/0) line baking tra with greaseproof'baking paper) dissolve east in warm water) stir til mi%ed1 appro% 1 min) some clumps will remain) stir in salt and sugar) graduall add 2 cups flour1 1 cup at a time) mi% with wooden spoon til dough is thick) add 3(ish cup flour until dough is no longer stick ) if still stick 1 add up to another cup) prod dough ( if it bounces back1 it4s read to knead) turn dough out onto floured surface) knead for appro% 2 mins and shape into a ball) cut dough to divide into 8 e5ual portions) !or 4 if ou4ve halved the recipe!$ one at a time1 roll each dough portion into a rope ( appro% "-6 long) !keep even diameter all the wa along)$ for a traditional knot1 bring the ends of the rope together to form a circle1 then keep going so the ends cross past each other) then twist !each hand winds up holding the opposite end than before the twist$1 and bring the ends towards ourself) press them down to form pret,el shape) !this is much simpler to do in practice than to tr and describe!$ repeat with each rope) bring 8 cups of water to boil in a reasonabl big saucepan) !i just use the kettle and make sure the hob is alread hot)$ once boiling1 add cup bicarbonate of soda 7 nb it might flare up! one b one1 dunk each pret,el in the boiling bicarb solution for 2- seconds) !i lower them in and lift them out with a flat slotted utensil1 like a fish slice1 as that4s easiest)$ if using egg wash1 beat egg in a shallow dish to dredge pret,els through1 or use brush to lightl cover both sides) *+ !just as good1 if not better!$ melt a knob of butter and brush the melted butter on both sides of each pret,el) place on baking tra and sprinkle with coarse salt) bake for 1- mins at ""-. til deep golden brown)

if ou manage not to scoff them all1 store in an airtight container for up to a couple of da s 7 but their te%ture worsens with time) apparentl the can also be fro,en but i4ve never tried'the 4ve never stood a chance of lasting that long! ou can e%periment with other seasonings'seeds to sprinkle1 but i usuall just crave them salt )