ok, not toxic, but after buying food-grade lye with a label covered in skulls and crossbones and donning 2 layers of latex gloves for safety, it amazes me that anything soaked in it can be edible. wait, not just edible. these were the best pretzels yet because of the brown color and chew the lye gave the pretzel.
Bavarian-Style Soft Pretzels
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons lard or softened unsalted butter
2 tablespoons instant yeast
6 cups (about 30 ounces) bread flour
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Food-grade lye, for dipping (see note)
Coarse sea salt or pretzel salt, for sprinkling (do not substitute kosher salt)
PREPARATION
In a mixing bowl (or bowl of a mixer), stir together syrup, lard or butter, yeast, 2 cups warm water and half the flour. Add kosher salt and remaining flour and stir just until mixture comes together in a shaggy mass.
Turn out onto counter (or attach dough hook to mixer) and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and supple. Cut into 12 pieces and let rest 5 minutes.
Roll out each piece into a rope about 22 inches long. (For traditional shape, the ends should be thin and the center fat.) Lift both ends, twist them around each other once, then bring ends back and press them on either side of fat “belly,” at about 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. Then gently spread out “shoulders” of pretzel. Transfer shaped pretzels to an ungreased baking sheet. (Alternatively, form each piece into a round or oval to make laugenbrötchen, rolls.)
Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a deep bowl, wearing rubber or latex gloves, make a solution of 1/2 cup lye and 10 cups water (or 1 part lye to 20 parts water); pour lye carefully into water to avoid splashing. Dip each pretzel in solution, turning it over for 10 to 15 seconds, and place back on baking sheet.
Sprinkle pretzels with salt. Bake about 15 minutes or until deep brown. Remove to a rack and serve warm.
Tips
Food-grade lye is sold at amazon.com and the Brooklyn Kitchen, (718) 389-2982.