Fresh Baked Boules Recipes

THE MIRACLE BOULE

Steps:

• Mix the flour, salt and yeast in a bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 cups/375 ml water to blend. What you'll have is a wet, shaggy, sticky dough, but not so wet as to be batter. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let it rest in a warm place for at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours. It's ready for the next step when the surface is dotted with bubbles.
• Flour a work surface and dump the dough out onto it. Sprinkle over a little more flour and fold it once or twice. Cover with the tea towel and let rest 15 minutes.
• Using only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers, shape the dough into a ball. Coat a cotton towel with cornmeal, wheat bran or flour and lay the dough on it, seam-side down. Dust with more cornmeal, wheat bran or flour. (You need quite a lot because you want to be sure the dough doesn't stick to the towel). Cover and let rise for about 2 hours. When ready, the dough will be more than double in size.
• Half an hour before the dough is ready, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F/230 degrees C. Put a 2-liter cast-iron pot or Dutch oven (cocotte) inside to heat.
• When the dough is ready, remove the pot from the oven and turn the dough into it, seam-side up. (It will look messy, but this is OK.) Shake the pot to settle the bread evenly. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the loaf is nicely browned, another 15 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.

QUICK AND EASY BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, yeast mixture and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 500°. Punch dough down. Divide and shape into 6 balls. Place 3 in. apart on 2 baking sheets that have been generously sprinkled with cornmeal or greased. Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 15 minutes. Spray loaves with water; if desired, generously sprinkle with sesame seeds. Using a sharp knife, score surface with shallow cuts in an "X" pattern. Bake 2 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 425°. Bake until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190°-200°. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Cut a thin slice off the top of bread. Hollow out bottom portion of loaf, leaving a 1/2-in. shell. Discard removed bread or save for another use, such as croutons.

40-CLOVE GARLIC BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a sheet of foil on a small baking sheet and line another baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut ½ inch off the tops of the garlic heads and place on the baking sheet with the foil. Drizzle the garlic with the olive oil and season with 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Place the tops back on each garlic bulb. Bring up the corners of the foil around the garlic, then roll closed to form a tight packet. Place in the oven and roast until the garlic is caramelized, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 30 minutes, until cool enough to handle. Leave the oven on.
• Unwrap the foil packet and squeeze the heads to release the roasted garlic cloves into a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until a thick paste forms (some chunks are okay).
• Add the butter, parsley, oregano, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt and stir to combine.
• Using a serrated knife, carefully cut the bread into 1-inch-thick (2.54 cm) slices, stopping ½ inch (1.24 cm) from the bottom of the loaf to keep intact. Turn the loaf 90° and repeat cutting in the opposite direction.
• Place the loaf on the parchment-lined baking sheet and stuff the mozzarella between the bread slices. Spread the roasted garlic butter over the entire loaf.
• Place the loaf into the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the top of the loaf is golden brown and crispy, 25-30 minutes.
• Remove the loaf from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Grate the Parmesan cheese directly over the top. Serve hot.
• Enjoy!