Pane Italiano Recipes

PANE CASSERECCIO RECIPE - ITALIAN COUNTRY BREAD

Steps:

• Create the biga preferment the day before. If using dried yeast follow the instructions below, otherwise, add the yeast to the water and whisk until it's dissolved. Add the biga flour and lightly mix with a dough scraper or your hands until it's incorporated which should take about 2 minutes. Cover, and leave at around 18-25C (64-77F) for 12-18 hours.
• The next day, weigh the ingredients. Add the biga to the water in a large mixing bowl. Now add all the ingredients, excluding the 2nd water and the olive oil, to the bowl or a dough mixer.
• Using a dough scraper (or your hand in a claw shape) in a circular motion, mix the dough to evenly distribute all the ingredients. After a minute or two, take the dough out of the bowl and stretch it slowly on a worktop. Continue this for 5 minutes. Return to the mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a bag and place it in the fridge for 10 minutes Using a dough mixer: Mix for 6 minutes at a slow speed. The dough should feel soft and have visible long gluten but it wont be very strong.
• Take the dough back to the worktop and knead for 10 minutes. Start off slowly and gradually get more intense. the stretch, slap and fold technique shown in the video is preferred here. Cover again and place back in the fridge for another 10 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and knead fast for 7 minutes on the table. Put the dough back in the bowl and add the second water. Keep folding the dough into the water, it may take a while but it will absorb!. After the water is incorporated, add the olive oil with the same method and knead a couple of minutes more on the table. The dough should look smooth, even and strong.
• Put the dough back in the bowl, cover and take a temperature reading. If it's above 26C (79F) and it's warmer than this in the room, put it in the fridge for 1 hour. If it's cooler than this, leave it on the worktop for the same amount of time.
• Complete a stretch and fold, or simply knock back the dough and return to the bowl.
• Take a temperature check, if above 28C (82F) put it in the fridge, if it's under, the kitchen table is fine. Leave to rest, covered for another hour.
• Complete another stretch and fold or knock back, but this time flour the worktop before hand and after the stretch and fold, let the dough rest in a square shape on the table.
• Left to rest for 20 minutes on the worktop.
• Divide into two equal weights of 650g. Try to keep the square shape, so there is no need to mould. Just divide and position them onto a lightly dusted board or peel.
• Leave them to proof for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours. Preheat the oven with a baking stone and a lipped baking sheet below it to 250C (480F).
• Use the poke test to judge when they are ready to bake. When ready, transfer them onto a peel by sliding one underneath.
• Cut using a bakers lame with a square design, 2 inches away from the edge.
• Slide the loaves into the oven using the peel. Add a cup of hot water to the tray below to create steam (oven gloves should be worn to prevent burning yourself) and quickly shut the door. Turn down the temperature to 220C (430F) and bake for 35-40 minutes. Open the door after 20 minutes to release some of the steam.
• Once the bread has turned a nice light golden colour, use a peel to remove it and allow to cool. You can bake it for longer if you want deeper aromas.

PANE CASERECCIO (HOMEMADE BREAD)

Steps:

• Mix the dry ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer, using the paddle. Then add the water in a drizzle until a very stick dough has formed. If the dough seems dry, then add a bit more, a spoonful at a time. Take the bowl from the mixer and cover it with a towel and/or a plate and leave it in a warm (but not hot) place over night. [NB: No worries if you don't have a standing mixer, you can just mix your dough in a normal bowl with a wooden spoon.]
• Scrape the dough out of the bowl with a spatula or wooden spoon onto a lightly floured surface. Flour your hands and form the mass of dough into a ball without kneading. Gingerly lay the dough on a lightly floured tea towel, then fold the ends of the towel on top of the dough. Let the bread rise again until it roughly doubles in size, which can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.
• About 30 minutes before the second rise is over, preheat your oven to 450F/230C. Put a 4-1/2 or 5-1/2 quart cast iron casserole (about 10" in diameter) with its cover, in the oven to preheat along with the oven itself.
• NB: For the next step: Make sure you have heavy oven mitts (it'll be too hot for a towel) and proceed with care!
• Take the casserole out of the oven using your oven mitt and lay it on a heat-resistant surface. Remove the cover and lay it aside. Take the towel with the dough and quickly flip the dough into the casserole (it will go in 'upside down', which is fine). Shake the casserole, if need be, to center the dough and then quick re-cover it.
• Put the casserole back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Then take it out of the oven and remove the cover. (The bread will be ever so slightly browned.)
• Put the casserole back into the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the bread has developed a beautiful golden brown crust. Turn the bread out onto a cooling rack and leave it until it has completely cooled.
• When the bread has cooled completely, after about 45 minutes to an hour, it is ready to enjoy!

PANE ITALIANO

Steps:

• Place the water and active dry yeast in the mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Add the flour and salt. KNEAD for a few minutes until the dough is elastic and not sticky.
• Allow dough to rest for 45 minutes covered in the mixing bowl.
• Shape the dough into a long loaf or round ball and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Let rise in a warm oven for 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Once the oven is to temperature slash the dough on top with a sharp knife and lightly dust with flour. (I also added a sprinkle of kosher salt to the top.)
• Bake for 30 minutes, turning the pan around at the fifteen minute mark. Bake until browned and bread sounds hollow when tapped. For a 1 1/2 pound loaf you will need: 3 cups flour, 9 ounces warm water, 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. For an automatic bread machine: Place everything in the bread pan in order suggested in your ABM manual.