Mighty Good Lean Dough
In November, I had a great opportunity to take a bread class from the bread master, Peter Reinhart at Johnson & Wales University. You might have read his challah recipe in my post. This bread was the only regular bread (read: not sweet) we made that day and made the class worthwhile for me! Since then, I have made this bread many times because it is so easy, does not require hardcore kneading, and the dough keeps in the fridge for up to four days. So you can bake fresh small loaf every day if you want to. We love the taste and I love how easy it is.
I made this bread again this weekend for dinner and my mother-in-law asked if I got this beautiful bread from the farmer’s market! I was humbled by the compliment since some local artisan bakery shops have their booths at the farmer markets, selling their goodies! When I told her that I made it, she said that I should definitely post this bread on my blog.
The bread tastes very good if you bake it right away but even better with every day the dough sits in the fridge. Cold, slow fermentation gradually develops the flavor and works the gluten. A period of four days is considered its maximum fridge life. After that point, the quality of gluten suffers due to increased alcohol in the dough. Also, we were cautioned that after four days, the crust will not caramelize to give that beautiful golden brown color since the natural sugar content will decrease.
What makes this bread easy is the different type of kneading involved: stretch-and-fold. Within an hour of making the dough, you have to stretch the dough and fold it on itself for four times. In the first two times, you might have a hard time with the messy dough, but it gets firmer with each folding.
I normally take it out of the oven as soon as it is done baking. This yields a softer crust. If you are the hard-crust type, turn off the oven and keep the bread for another 10-15 min in the oven without opening its door. Also, you can halve the amount given below or substitute 2 oz of wheat or rye flour for the same amount of bread flour used for an earthier texture.
I do not always listen to my husband when he tells me to do stuff, but I do listen to my mother-in-law! So, here is the recipe.
Lean Dough (Peter Reinhart’s “Artisan Breads Everday” class)
- 24 oz (5-1/3 cups) unbleached bread flour
- 2 teaspoons table salt
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 18 oz (2-1/4 cups) lukewarm water
1. Combine everything in a big bowl and stir for 2 minutes with a wooden spoon. Keep a glass of warm water handy to dip your spoon in if the dough cakes up on it. The dough will come together but will look shaggy and sticky.
2. Lightly oil another bowl and transfer the dough into the bowl.Let it rest for 5 minutes.
3. Oil your hands lightly. Stretch the dough to a little square and fold two opposite ends on top of each other and then fold the other two ends. Bring the seam side down and place it in the bowl. Let it rest 10 minutes.
4. After ten minutes, lightly oil a surface and transfer the dough. Stretch it into a square or rectangle. Fold the two opposite ends together, then the other two. Repeat this two more times, with 10 minutes resting periods in between. You have to complete this 4-stretch-fold steps in an hour.
5. At this point, you can store the dough in the fridge. It will rise in the fridge in the next 4-12 hours. Or you can let it rise until it doubles in size at room temperature and continue with baking.
6. Once it doubles, transfer the dough onto a working surface. Cut with kitchen scissors or serrated knife. Do not try to pull it apart since that pulling action actually hurts the gluten bonds formed.
7. You can shape both doughs the way you want, but refrain from handling it aggressively. I usually make a ball and tuck the ends and seams underneath the ball. Put cornmeal or semolina on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat. (I used parchment paper and the paper got stuck on the crust! Lesson learned!) Place the dough and let it rest for another 60 minutes, uncovered. This will dry out the skin, making it easier to score if you want.
8. Preheat the oven to 550-degrees. Place a ramekin full of water on the bottom rack in the oven.
9. At the end of the hour, with a serrated knife or sharp razor, score the top of the bread up to 1/2 inch, the way you want it. Make sure you score it with a quick move. Once the oven is heated, place the baking sheet(s) on the middle rack and close the door quickly. Turn the heat down to 450-degrees. Bake for 10-12 minutes, turn the sheet 180-degrees. Bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the bread is rich, golden color.
21 Comments:
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9:00 pm
Apr 25, 2011Wow. I am tempted. I’m the world’s worst baker. Kneading and I are not friends. Maybe I can do better with folding…
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8:31 pm
Apr 27, 2011Hi Parsley Sage, let me know how it turns out when you do. Thanks for stopping by :)
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8:37 am
Apr 26, 2011Some of the best bread I’ve made has used the stretch and fold method. Definitely going to be trying this recipe out!
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8:31 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Peggy, If you have other recipes with this method, let me know, would love to try!
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2:18 pm
Apr 26, 2011That is a lovely looking loaf! Your MIL was right- it looks very “professional.” And lucky you! I’d love to take a class from Mr. Reinhart.
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8:30 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Shelly! That class was one of the highlights of my year, waiting in anticipation all for four months !
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5:36 pm
Apr 26, 2011If I lean in and sniff my computer screen , I’m sure I can smell your heavenly bread! Looks wonderful!
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8:29 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Lisa, it does smell great, any bread baking makes the whole house smell great… Hopefully it will smell like your tarts this weekend. Will try your chocolate one!
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5:51 pm
Apr 26, 2011Thats such a beautiful looking bread.I love such crusty breads which are perfectly baked.I might try it one day..when yeast is no more my foe :)
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8:28 pm
Apr 27, 2011Tanvi, show that yeast who the boss is :)
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7:31 am
Apr 27, 2011You are a good daughter-in-law! And I’m glad your mother-in-law suggested that you share this recipe. The bread looks delicious, and sounds fairly easy to make. Well done!!! xo
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8:28 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Deb :)
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3:15 pm
Apr 27, 2011This looks so easy and yet looks like it gives amazing results. I’ve heard that bread dough should be really wet as you make it and I’ve always wondered what that’s meant to look like. Now I know. Thanks!
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8:27 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Caroline. Most of the time, I can not imagine what the dough should look like until I see it as well. It gets tricky with all the adjectives sometimes:)
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7:53 pm
Apr 27, 2011Your bread looks wonderful. I bake several loaves a week but have never used this method. I really have to give this a try. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
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8:26 pm
Apr 27, 2011Thanks Mary. You should try, it is really easy way of kneading. Especially if you are making it every week.
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11:01 am
Apr 28, 2011Fantastic looking bread. I love how simple the recipe is. :)
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9:32 pm
Apr 28, 2011Thanks Sommer, I like the simple bread recipes too! :)
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5:37 pm
Apr 28, 2011Selam,
Hala o kadar flu alan var ki ürünü keyifle algılayamıyorum. Çekimlere ve çekimlerde seçilen objektife dikkat :)** Bilmem hatırladınız mı İstanbuldan misafir gemiştim :)
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7:09 pm
Apr 28, 2011Evet hatirladim nasil unuturum bizim profesyonel fotografciyi. Umarim resimler senin standard’lari yakalar bir gun Cengiz Abi :)
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8:17 pm
May 1, 2011Wow your loaf looks great. Light and airy! Thanks for your comment on my macarons post. I didn’t mean to scare people at all! I promise it’s not that bad. I was probably also paying less attention because I was pretty ill while baking them too. Please don’t be afraid to give them a try. It feels so great when you get them right too ;p
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