Yeast plait with pre-dough

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 250 g flour (type 550)
• 250 ml milk
• 2 g yeast
• 750 g flour (type 550)
• 350 ml water
• 100 g butter (melted)
• 120 g sugar
• 10 g salt
• 2 eggs
• 8 g yeast
• 1 egg(s), beaten

Instructions

Working time approx. 1 hour; Rest time approx. 9 hours; Total time approx. 10 hours

The yeast plait is made with a pre-dough and a main dough. Pre-dough: Mix 250 g of flour with 250 ml of lukewarm milk and 2 g of yeast. Let it rise in a warm place for about 5 hours (or overnight in the refrigerator). For the main dough, knead the entire pre-dough with the flour, water, yeast and 2 eggs for about 5 minutes, then add the sugar and salt in three batches. Then knead in the butter. The dough should loosen from the mixing bowl. The entire kneading process takes about 12 minutes. Then let the dough rest for about 10 minutes. Only then shape the dough slightly and then let it rise for 1.5 hours. To do this, either cover the dough with a damp tea towel or cover with foil (the foil should not come into contact with the dough). To prevent the dough from sticking in the bowl, I add 1 teaspoon of oil to the bowl and turn the dough over once to lightly coat each surface. Fold the dough over halfway through. After about 90 minutes, the dough will have doubled in size. Now you can braid the loaf. To do this, I first divide the dough into two halves, as you will end up with two braids. Now you weigh the pieces of dough depending on the type of braid you are doing, so the braid is even. My favorite way to braid is to use the 5-strand braid. To do this, divide the dough into five pieces and roll them out into strands of about 50 cm. Braid them into a braid. Fold the ends under the braid and cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour. To prevent the plastic wrap from sticking, I lightly spray it with baking spray. After the last rise, carefully brush with beaten egg. You can sprinkle the plait with granulated sugar, flaked almonds, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds and bake at 175°C (fan oven) for about 40 minutes. I spray the plait once with a water spray after about 10 minutes of baking.