Pain De Mie Pullman Bread Recipes

PAIN DE MIE - FRENCH PULLMAN BREAD (ABM)

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients, and mix and knead them-by hand, mixer, or bread machine-to form a smooth, supple dough.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl or dough-rising bucket, cover the bowl or bucket, and allow the dough to rise till puffy though not necessarily doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Lightly grease a standard (13 x 4 x 4-inch) lidded pain de mie pan.
• Transfer the risen dough to a lightly greased work surface, shape it into a log, and fit it into the pan. Flatten the top as much as possible. Cover the pan with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise until it's about 1/2-inch below the lip of the pan, about 45 minutes.
• Carefully slip the cover onto the pan, and let it rest an additional 15 minutes while you preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Bake the bread for 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, carefully remove the lid, and return the bread to the oven to bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until it's golden-brown on top and tests done; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center will register 190°F
• Remove the bread from the oven, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool completely. For a soft, flavorful crust, brush the loaf with melted butter while warm. Yield: 1 loaf.

PULLMAN SANDWICH BREAD AKA PAIN DE MIE

Steps:

• Ensure milk is warm, not hot (about 110 F). In a small bowl add the yeast, sugar, and egg. Stir and set aside to foam for 5 mins.Pro tip - Instant yeast does not need to be activated but I like to ensure my yeast is good and working for me. You may choose to add all ingredients directly to the flour.
• In the large bowl of a stand mixer, with the dough hook attachment add the flour and salt. Then, add the yeast mixture. Combine with a wooden spoon or rubber spatulaPro tip - If you do not like kneading, I highly recommend using a stand mixer with the hook attachment.
• Knead on medium speed for about a minute scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Pro tip - Do not make haste to add additional water or flour at this point because the flour is still absorbing liquid.
• Once all the flour is incorporated, knead the dough for three minutes on medium speed until smooth. The dough will be soft and sticky.Pro tip - A soft and sticky dough is a light and airy bread so don't add more flour.
• Next, add the soft room temperature butter a little at a time. knead again for 2 minutes until smooth and elastic but still soft.Pro tip - When you add the butter it will seem like the dough is falling apart. Trust the process and keep kneading.
• Avoid the temptation to add more flour. We want soft, light, and fluffy brad, and this is only possible when the dough is soft, elastic, yet slightly sticky.Note - If using a stand mixer, you may need to add the reserved flour for kneading to prevent the dough from sticking to the bowl. If kneading by hand, use the reserved flour as required for kneading to prevent the dough from sticking to the work surface.
• Remove the dough from the mixer bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a ball.Pro tip - Using a flexible bread scraper does a good job of removing the sticky dough from the bowl.
• Place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or clean kitchen cloth. Leave to rise in a warm place for about an hour until doubled in volume.Pro tip - In winter, you may need 90 minutes or more. But in summer, the dough may double in 45 minutes. If you can't attend to it at that moment, de-gas, reshape, and let double in volume again.
• When the dough is double in volume invert the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into two - to make two loaves or one large 13-inch loaf.
• Start to roll like a jelly roll. Fold from top to the center then again once more towards the end. Pinch the seams together.
• Place into a buttered Pullman loaf pan seam side down.
• Cover loaf pan with plastic wrap or clean kitchen cloth. Let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes until almost 2 inches from the top rim of the loaf pan.
• Once you see your dough is almost halfway up the sides preheat the oven to 380°F / 190°C / Gas Mark 5 for at least 10 minutes.
• Cover the loaf pan with its lid. Place the loaf pan on the center rack in the hot oven.Pro tip - You want to place the lid on before it rises to the top so you don't ruin the rise.
• Bake the 13-inch loaf for about 45 to 50 minutes, the 9-inch loaf for about 25 to 30 minutes, and the 7-inch loaf for about 20 to 25 minutes. Pro tip - The bread is done - when you tap the bottom of your loaf and you will hear a hollow sound (or the internal temperature registers between 160° to 180°F on an instant-read thermometer)
• Partially open the lid and let cool for 10 minutes - before you remove and let cool completely. Take it out of the pan and cover it with a clean kitchen cloth for at least 5 minutes.Pro tip - Wrapping the bread in kitchen cloth will let the steam cool in the bread keeping it soft.
• Always let bread rest for at least an hour before you cut - this is the hardest part!! But, it will prevent the steam from escaping and making the bread dry.
• Enjoy!

WHITE PULLMAN LOAF (PAIN DE MIE)

Steps:

• Starter: Also called pre-ferment, pâte fermentée (a mature pre-ferment, as in this starter), or poolish (which contains commercial yeast, as in this starter), this is the leavening or rising component of the bread baking process. Turn on a digital scale and weigh your empty container. Deduct the weight of the container by pressing the "tare" function, which resets the scale to zero. Add milk to the container, and tare to zero again. Then, continuing to weigh the ingredients, add salt, pinch of yeast, sugar, and flour. Use a chopstick to stir the starter until the dry and wet ingredients are just mixed. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, 6-8 hours.
• Dough: Stir flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a medium bowl, and set aside. Pour milk into the pre-ferment to loosen it. Whisk 2 eggs in a large bowl; then stir in the pre-ferment/milk mixture. Use a rubber spatula to break up the pre-ferment into the liquid. Add the flour mixture and the butter, and continue mixing until most of the dry ingredients have been combined with the starter mixture. Using a wooden spoon, and starting in the middle of the bowl, slowly stir to the edges until most of the flour has been mixed in and hydrated.
• Roll and Tuck: A technique to develop gluten in the dough so it becomes firmer and easier to work with. This is done one time, followed by a resting period. Combine 1 part fine semolina with 5 parts unbleached white flour to make dusting flour, and lightly dust a clean work surface. Using a plastic bowl scraper, push the dough and residual flour out of the bowl onto the work surface. Use the scraper to stretch and gently shape the dough into a rough rectangle (dough will still be sticky). Then, starting at one end, roll and tuck the dough like a tube, about 3-4 times. Flip the dough so it's seam-side up and flatten again to a rectangle in the opposite direction, so the seam stretches from left to right. Repeat rolling and tucking, always returning to a seam-up position. Continue until the dough feels stronger and begins to resist any further rolling, about 10 times. All of the flour will get absorbed into the dough during this process. Shape into a ball and place into a bowl coated with nonstick spray. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature, 45 minutes.
• Stretch and Fold: This technique strengthens the dough by folding it over onto itself. This process is repeated 3 times, with a resting period after each stretch and fold. Lightly dust the work surface and your hands with dusting flour. Using the scraper, release the dough from the bowl and place it seam-side down on the work surface. Gently shape into a rectangle, then fold the dough into thirds, like a letter. Pat it down slightly, then repeat the same fold in the other direction. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature, 45 minutes. For the second stretch and fold, repeat the steps for the first stretch and fold, but this time stretch the dough by flipping back and forth (like pizza dough). Gently reshape it into a rough rectangular shape before folding. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature, 45 minutes. For the third and final stretch and fold, repeat the steps for the second stretch and fold, cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature, 45 minutes.
• Shaping/Fermentation (Proofing): Shape the dough to prepare it for baking, then ferment (proof) it for a period of time to expand the dough and develop flavor. Spray the bottom and sides of a pullman loaf pan with nonstick spray. Lightly dust the work surface and your hands with dusting flour. Press the dough down slightly to de-gas it, then stretch into a 16-inch square (or to whatever length of the pan you're using). Roll the square into a tube. Place the tube seam side down into the prepared pan. Gently tap the dough down with your fist to even it out in the pan, then cover with plastic wrap. Let rest at room temperature until the dough rises about 1½ -inches above the surface of the pan, 1½-3 hours.
• Baking: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (preferably convection). Test dough for baking by gently pressing; it should bounce back, leaving a slight dimple. Make an egg wash by whisking the remaining egg with a pinch of salt; add about 1 tablespoon of milk to thin it out. Spray the outer edges of the pan with nonstick spray and use a pastry brush to gently brush egg wash across the top of the dough, twice. (The spray will ensure the egg wash doesn't seep into the corners of the pan.) Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 385 degrees F. Rotate the pan and bake an additional 12-15 minutes. Test for doneness by removing from oven and giving it a thump on top; it should sound hollow. Tap the pan on the counter to release the loaf; turn it over and carefully remove the bread from the pan. Return the loaf to the oven on its side, and bake directly on the rack to solidify the shape, 5 minutes.
• Cooling, Slicing, and Storing: Transfer bread to a cooling rack (and notice the caramel aroma!). Cool completely before slicing and eating, at least 2 hours. Store loosely in plastic for 7 days.

PAIN DE MIE (PULLMAN BREAD)

Steps:

• Combine milk, yeast and 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour.
• Beat and let proof 1 hour.
• De gas and add oil, salt, sugar, 2 cups white flour.
• Work in bowl until dough forms a ball.
• Knead adding white flour as necessary until dough is smooth and a bit moist.
• Let dough rise in oiled bowl 1-1 1/2 hours .
• De gas.
• Let rest 10 min.
• Shape dough to fit a Pain de Mie pan with lid, or use a large bread pan.
• Cover and let rise to 1/2 inch from top of pan, approx 30-45 min.
• Cover with lid, or cover a bread pan with waxed paper and put a weighted cookie sheet on the pan.
• Let stand 10 min.
• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pain de Mie lid must be on the pan when in the oven, but remove cookie sheet from other bread pan.
• Bake 25 min.
• Remove Pain de Mie lid and let bake 10 more min.
• Put pan on wire rack to cool for 10 min.
• Turn bread out.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• The loaf in the Pain de Mie pan should be flat on six sides.
• Perfect for sandwiches.