This recipe spins the web for a longtime. If you are a
foodie , you might have tried this one. If not it is not too late. The bread
doesn't require any special baker skills.
No worry of killing yeast, no need of power muscles to knead
the dough- that doesn't sounds great for any newbie to kick start a bread?
The bread is not baked in constraint of time. Barely, we mix
three main ingredients and forget it for hours at room temperature. The dough
turns into a nice bubbly look (gluten
formation). You drop (literally runny
dough) the dough in very floured surface and fold it like a business letter
format and fold again the same way. Let it rest another few minutes and try to
shape it like a ball (If you can u should be real pro). Let it give a rest and
bake in hot sizzling casserole. Got to tell, you will be surprised without a
sweat you succeeded to bake an artisan bread! The bread came out with a
perfect crispy crust, and soft and
chewy inside.
The entire process is incredibly simple and the innovator of
this
recipe is Jim Lahey. The only thing you need is patience and 24 hours to
bake this bread.
I watched his
video and saw the recipe, there is a difference in measurement and oven
temperature in both. I used 1 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp water and 450 Degree oven
temperature.
Ingredients:
All purpose flour: 3 cups
Yeast: 1/4 tsp
Salt: 1 1/4 tsp
Water:1 1/2 cup +1 tbsp
Optional but I used in this recipe:
Cooking Oil spray or oil to smear the bowl
Cornmeal-flour or wheat germ: to sprinkle
Baking needs:
2 cotton towels + any oven safe heavy casserole with lid
(cast iron/ pyrex/ stoneware/glassware)
Method:
1.In a bowl, mix AP flour + yeast + salt. Now add 1 1/2 cup
+ 1 tbsp water (Tap water) and stir until blended. The dough will be very
sticky quiet like thick paste.
Transfer into a glass bowl smear with oil.. Cover with
plastic wrap and let it rest at least 12 hours . My dough rested for 15 hours.
The dough is ready when u see a bubbly top.
2.Sprinkle flour on the working surface, drop the dough keep
your hands well floured too. Sprinkle some flour on the dough and fold like
business letter form and fold again the same way. Cover loosely with wrap and
let it rest another 15 minutes.
3.Sprinkle cornmeal/flour or wheat germ in cotton towel.
Shape quickly the dough into ball. Put the seam side down and cover the towel
loosely and cover with another towel.
Let it rise another 2 hours the ball will double in size.
At least 30 minutes before the dough is ready, heat the oven
at 450 Degree. Keep the casserole with lid in oven and heat for 30 minutes.
When the dough is ready , slide your hands under the dough (will be like a big
jelly ball) turn the dough seam side up in hot pot. If it looks messy give a
shake once or twice, it will straighten while baking. But I chose a very small
casserole, that is why the dough shrank. Close with lid. Bake 30 minutes with
lid and remove lid and bake another 10 to 15 minutes until u get a golden
crust. Remove and cool completely in wire rack before slicing.
Sending this bread to "Only-Cooking
with bread" by Pari.
Comments
US Masala
Wonderful loaf, Cham.
your bread looks great..
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