Easy French Bread

14 Jan 2011

When I saw Dailydelicious shared this recipe, I fell in love with it immediately for it's simiplicity to make and according to her it has never failed her. I got into doing it the next day. Yes I was very satisfied with it. It was the kind of French bread I liked, a bit salty with soft and chewy texture. After toasting, is crunchy and really good for making garlic bread.

Recipe adapted from Dailydelicious, hop over to her blog for detailed picture instruction.

Ingredients: (make 2 loaf)
300g Bread flour
1tsp Honey
1.5tsp Instant yeast
1tbsp Olive oil
200ml Water (I use cold water)
1½tsp Coarse sea salt (I used 1 tsp fine sea salt)

Yellow cornmeal for sprinkle over the pan (omitted because I don't have)
Boiling water for baking




Method:
Note: I use my Kenwood to knead instead of using hand.
Preheat oven at 220°C, place a roasting pan in the lowest shelf of the oven.

1. Mix all ingredients except the cornmeal & boiling water in a mixing bowl, start at low speed to combine all ingredients. Then increase to speed 4-5 to knead the dough till elastic (with kenwood knead around 35 mins) . Sprinkle 1-2 tbsp water if the dough gets too dry.

2. Put the dough into a light oiled bowl. Let the dough rise in a warm place until double in size (can be 1 hour or 1 and half hour, often depend on the temperature).

3. Place a baking paper over a baking tray, sprinkle with some yellow cornmeal. Divide the dough into 2 pieces. Roll into balls and let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Press the ball lightly and shape into a long oval, do the same with another ball.

4. Use the side of your hand press the center of the dough, and roll again (do it 2-3 times until you get a desired length ) Place the shaped dough over a prepared pan. Let the dough rise until almost double in size, about 30 minutes.

5. With a very sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across top of each loaf. Put the bread into the oven (center rack) and pour the boiling water into the roasting pan, bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 200°C bake for another 10 minutes, or until bread turn golden. Remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack.

I love boursin on french bread.

Or french bread with homemade garlic spread.

Use this recipe to make Christmas Tree hard rolls bread! Each dough shaped into 42-45g bun, just nice 1 recipe can make into 12 buns!