Today's Menu #7

Soft Baguette

Ingredients (2 baguettes)

Flour Dry Yeast Sugar Natural Salt Milk Olive Oil

10.5 oz 0.1 oz 0.3 oz 0.17 oz 8 oz 0.5 oz

1. Put sugar, salt and half the milk (4oz) into a bowl and mix with a whisk. Add flour, dry yeast and the other half of the milk(4oz). Blend well. Add olive oil and mix again by hand.

2. Place the dough on a molding board. Spread the dough forward with your both palms. Pull it back in a circular pattern. Make the dough smooth by repeating several times. The dough will be slightly sticky to the board and your hands. Do not add more flour, this will only harden the dough.

3. Keep kneading until dough does not stick to the board or your hand. Toss dough to board, gently spread out and fold. Repeat this step until dough is evenly kneaded and soft.  

4. Spread the kneaded dough evenly and thinly. If it breaks, repeat kneading steps and try again.

5. Cut a piece of wax paper, double the size of a baking sheet, fold it in half and place on the sheet. Shape the dough into an oval, place it in the middle of the baking sheet between the wax paper. Wrap the whole baking sheet with plastic bag to prevent from dryness and refrigerate for 8 hours.

6. When the dough rises 2.5 times, take the dough out of the plastic bag and remove the wax paper.

7. Place the dough on the molding board, knead lightly and let it stand in room temperature (77-82 deg F). Cut the dough in half with a dough cutter, preferably evenly using scale so that it will rise and be baked evenly.

8.  Press the dough down with rolling pin and spread it to a square. Bring up the front, then double fold forward and roll. Do the same thing to the other dough.

9. Cover with dish towel, damp cloth, and plastic wrap (in this order) to prevent from dryness. Let it stand for about 20 minutes.

10. Form each half into a long baguette.

11. Place on the baking sheet. Cover with dish towel, damp cloth, and plastic wrap (in this order) and put the whole baking sheet into a plastic bag. Warm oven for about 1 minute and turn off. Put the baking sheet in the oven and let stand for about 1 hour.

12. When the dough doubles in size, take it out from the oven. Preheat oven to 400 deg F. Remove the dish towel, damp cloth and plastic bag.

13. Sprinkle flour on the surface of the dough and make a lengthwise cut on the top. Put it in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until top is browned.

14. Take out of oven and let cool. Serve and enjoy.

Japanese Recipe

Soft Baquette