Do You Like Pretzels?

Pretzels are very popular all over the world, being very easy to prepare and very cheap. It is an excellent snack, being available in several varieties, from salty, sweet, or with all sorts of other ingredients: seeds, raw or dried fruit, or with chocolate toppings, but also with other delicious sauces.

If you have ever wondered what pretzels are, what they are made of, or how they came from, we present in this article some extremely useful information! Find out who invented pretzels and how they are eaten in different parts of the world!

What are pretzels?

Pretzels are bakery products made from a dough of fermented wheat flour. They are treated with sodium hydroxide or other alkaline salts before baking to get such a delicious crust and their classic look.

Then they are covered with coarse or kosher salt for a special flavor. The twisted knot shape is unique and one of the things that set it apart from other bakery products.

How are pretzels consumed in different parts of the world?

If you now know what pretzels are, you should know that they are eaten as a snack, with countless flavors, sizes, and textures, depending on the area of ​​the globe where they are made.

For example, in Europe, pretzels can be sprinkled with sunflower seeds, sesame, poppy seeds, pumpkin, and or baked with Emmentaler cheese on top.

In some parts of Bavaria, Germany, pretzels are sprinkled with anise, and in other parts of the state, "white pretzels" (Weisse brazen) are popular, which are not treated with lye and are sprinkled with cumin and salt.

One of the most popular dishes in Germany is the soft pretzel with weißwurst (a white pork and veal sausage, flavored with lemon, onion, and various spices), sweet mustard, and a large glass of beer.

Also in Bavaria, pretzels are enjoyed with Obatzda, a very tasty cream cheese made from Camembert or Brie (with white mold), butter, paprika, and onion. Another very common variant in Germany is a type of pretzel in which the core was removed and filled with various dishes, such as sausages, smoked salmon, ham, or others.

In the United States, pretzels with various toppings are preferred. Most Americans prefer cheese or mustard topping, but many opt for the combination with sweeter or more flavorful products, such as cinnamon, chocolate, peanut butter, or various other glazes. Many people suffer from soaking their marinade in the sauce.

What are pretzels made of?

The dough for the pretzels is mainly obtained from wheat flour, water, yeast, and chemical leavening agents. In addition, pretzels require a lye bath, which is an alkaline solution that is prepared by dissolving sodium hydroxide in water. This solution causes a chemical reaction on the surface of the dough and thus obtains its characteristic brown crust, distinctive luster, and aroma.

Simple pretzel recipe

To better understand what pretzels are and what they are made of, we present below their main ingredients and how to prepare them, in Bavarian style!

Ingredient:

• 1 packet of active dry yeast
• 1/8 cup hot water
• 1 cup hot water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons baking soda

Method of preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 205 degrees Celsius.
2. In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/8 cup of warm water. Then mix the remaining warm water with the salt and flour. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (no need for the dough to rise).
3. Fill a saucepan with water at least 3 cm high and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to each cup of water. Boil the mixture until the baking soda is well dissolved.
4. Cut the dough into 8 pieces and roll it to get long shapes like a thicker pencil, then lift on both ends and cross them to get the pretzel-specific loop. Leave the pretzels thus formed aside on the work surface sprinkled with flour and leave them like this for about 10 minutes.
5. Immerse the pretzels one by one in the baking soda mixture for 10–15 seconds. Use a large spatula and push each pretzel into the water to make sure it is completely covered with the alkaline solution. Remove the pretzel from the liquid mixture and place it in a tray lined with baking foil.
6. To prepare them like real Bavarians, cut the thickest part of the pretzels a little. Then put salt on top and put the tray in the oven for 18–19 minutes or until the pretzels are well browned. If you don't want to salt them, you can sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds.