Pain Blanc Recipes

PAIN DE CAMPAGNE - COUNTRY FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• To make the sponge, whisk the 1/2 teaspoon yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Stir in the whole wheat flour until the mixture resembles a thick batter. Beat for about 100 strokes to form longs strands of gluten. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let sit at room temperature for 2 to 8 hours (longer is better for flavor development). You can also let the poolish ripen in the refrigerator for 12 to 15 hours, bringing it back to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe.
• When the poolish is ready, it will be bubbly and loose, with a yeasty, sour aroma. Scrape the poolish into a bowl and stir in the 2 1/2 cups water and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon yeast. Stir well to combine. Add the bread flour 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the dough becomes too difficult to stir.
• Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead for 10 to 12 minutes, adding more flour only when the dough becomes too sticky to handle. Sprinkle the salt over the dough and knead it for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. The dough should have a smooth surface and spring back to the touch. Shape the dough into a round and cover with a damp cloth for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat the surface of the dough with oil. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 2 to 3 hours.
• Deflate the dough and cut it into two pieces. Shape the dough into two rounds, cover them with plastic or a damp cloth, and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Shape the dough into baguettes. Place a heavily floured cloth on a baking sheet, arranging a fold down the center to separate the loaves. Place the loaves, seam-side up, on the floured cloth. Dust the tops of the loaves with flour, cover with a damp towel, and let rise until doubled in bulk again, about two hours.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal. Gently transfer the risen loaves to the baking sheet, placing them seam-side down on the cornmeal. Make several diagonal slashes in the loaf with a serrated knife or razor blade.
• Immediately place the scored loaves in the preheated oven. Bake the bread until the loaves are golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool the loaves on wire racks.

PAIN BLANC

Steps:

• Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in 1/2 cup warm water and sprinkle with yeast; place in a 2-cup mixing bowl and let rise in oven with only the oven light on for about 20 minutes or until the yeast has nearly reached the top.
• In a 12-quart pot, add the yeast mixture.
• Add 4 cups warm water, 4 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp salt and 1/2 cup cooking oil.
• Gradually add 11+ cups flour and knead about 10 minutes.
• Put the lid on the pot and place in oven (with only the oven light on) until the bread rises to the top of the pot.
• Punch down the dough with floured hands and knead about 5 minutes.
• Again, put the lid on the pot and place in the oven (with only the oven light on) and let rise until the dough reaches the top.
• Punch down with buttered hands and place the dough on your buttered counter or table.
• Cut the dough into 5 equal pieces.
• Shape into 5 loaves.
• Butter your hands and gently rub the butter onto the loaves before placing into buttered bread tins.
• Place in oven (with only the oven light on) and let rise until doubled in bulk - about 1 hour.
• Remove the loaves from the oven being careful not to puncture the loaves. Heat oven to 400°F then drop the temperature to 375°F Place loaves in the oven and bake for 35 minutes until golden brown.
• Enjoy a loaf steaming hot, sliced thick with butter. mmmm.
• The other loaves may be frozen when completely cooled.