Go Back
Baby Boomer Women | Bread Making | Finished loaves

Wild Yeast French Country Loaf

Rose Lawrence of Red Bread
Country loaf recipe made with starter culture and no sugar
Course bread
Cuisine French
Servings 2 Loaves

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g Culture obtain some or start your own
  • 312 g water
  • 350 g Bread Flour has the internal kernel of wheat removed from the husk that has a consistent protein content of 12-14%
  • 100 g Whole-wheat flour
  • 17 g Celtic salt

Instructions
 

  • Measure out culture.
  • Add water and stir well with fingers.
  • Let it rest 30 mins
  • Combine the 2 flours.
  • Sprinkle in the flour into the culture mixture reserving one cup to adjust for variances in temperature.
  • Let it rest for 30 mins.
  • Add salt
  • Put the dough on a flour powdered surface and slap it one time. (this will let you know if it is too sticky. If it is sprinkled in a little more flour)
  • Stretch and fold the dough until it resists. (approx 8 times with quarter turns)
  • Let it rest for 30 mins.
  • Repeat 3 times (stretch and fold the dough 8 times with quarter turns and let it rest 30 minutes)
  • On the 3rd time allow the dough to proof 2 hours at room temperature.
  • Move to the refrigerator for an overnight rise. (can be kept for 3 days before baking)
  • When ready to bake, divide the dough into 2 portions for 1 lb 5 oz batards or one 3 lb boule.
  • Flatten into an oval and shape, pinching seams well.
  • If using pizza stones place the loaves on a "slip" - you can use a cookie sheet dusted with flour. (this makes it easier to let them "slip" onto the pizza stone.)
  • Proof for 1 hour at room temperature.
  • Preheat the oven to 500.
  • Slash to create a design on top of the bread (straight line, cross, or star with scissors)
  • Place in oven and bake for 30 min for batard (long and narrow) 1 hour for large boule (round) or until golden brown.
  • To test, turn the loaf over and tap lightly. It should sound hollow.
  • Remove from the oven and place on wire racks to cool.
  • Allow 30 minutes to cool completely before cutting it.

Notes

You will find that you may have to adjust the amounts of ingredients to achieve the perfect consistency. It takes practice. Red Bread has a cookbook coming out soon with more in-depth information on breadmaking technique. Look for it at www.thebreadisred.com
The Bread is Red