How do I...
How to make bread dough
DIFFICULTY
Easy
Easy
Bread is probably the most common food in the world and is certainly a main stable in Italy. Here is a basic bread recipe, which can be used in your own kitchen to make fragrant loaves or use as a starting point for many other traditional Italian recipes.
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Ingredients for 4 people
1 ½ lb Italian type “0” bread flour or all-purpose flour
⅝ lb high gluten bread flour
¾ oz fresh yeast
1 oz salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups water
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Preparation
Pour the yeast into a cup of warm (about 100°F water). Stir and let dissolve for a minute or so.
In the meanwhile, mix together the two flours, forming a well on a cutting board or flat work surface.
Pour the water and dissolved yeast into the center of the well and the remaining warm water. Incorporate the water into the flours.
Work the dough well with your hands for a couple of minutes, then add the oil and the salt. Knead the dough for 15 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.
If you prefer, you can use a mixer with a dough hook, allowing the machine to run for 10 minutes.
Once the dough is well kneaded, cover it with a dishtowel and let it rise for an hour in a dry place. The dough should double in volume.
Once the dough has risen, divide it into pieces and let rise for an additional 10 minutes. Then, shape the pieces into loaves of the shape and size you prefer.
Use a knife to make an X on the top of each loaf and let rise for another hour or until a slight crust forms around the edge.
Place the loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 450°F oven until golden.
If you are using an electric oven, add a little water to the oven during the first 5 minutes of cooking to create vapor. This will give the bread a fragrant crust.
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