Makes about 40

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 ¼ tsp dry active yeast (1 envelope)
  • 1 ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 3 ¾ – 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 9 cups water
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 8 beef hot dogs, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Poppy seeds, sesame seeds or nigella seeds (optional)
  • Thinly sliced scallions for garnish (optional)
  • Ketchup, for serving
  • Mustard, for serving

 

Make the Dough

Line three baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

Whisk the 1 and 1/2 cups warm water with the yeast in a large bowl. Let it sit for about 3 minutes. Whisk in the salt, oil and sugar. Add in 3 cups of the flour, a little at a time, mixing until combined. Add 3/4 cups more flour. If the dough is still too sticky, add the last ¼ cup.

Empty the dough onto your work surface and knead until smooth. Grease the inside of a medium bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl.

Cover with a towel and place in a warm area for 15 minutes.

 

Make the baking soda bath

In a large, wide pot, combine the 9 cups of water with the baking soda and bring to a rolling boil.

 

Form your dough

Working with half the dough at a time, lightly flour your surface and roll the dough out to ¼ inches thick. Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out circles. Tightly pinch three corners of each circle to form hamantaschen. Place the hamantaschen onto the prepared baking sheets.

 

Boil then bake

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Using a large slotted spatula, drop 3-4 hamantaschen into the boiling baking soda water, making sure the tops of the hamantaschen are face down in the water. Boil for exactly 10 seconds. Any longer, and the pretzels will have a stronger pretzel taste. Remove with the spatula. The hamantaschen should be face down on the spatula, in order for the water to drain out. Place them back onto the prepared baking sheets, face up. Make sure they do not touch one another.

Place 1 hot dog piece into the center of each hamantaschen. Brush with egg and sprinkle with bagel seasoning. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

 

To serve

Sprinkle with scallions and serve with ketchup and mustard.