Roggenbrot German Rye Hardbread Recipes

RECIPE FOR RYE BREAD WITH SOURDOUGH (ROGGENBROT)

Steps:

• If you have a sack of whole grain or stone-ground rye flour, sift it through a fine sieve (1 millimeter or 1/32 inch mesh) and use the sieved portion for this dough. Retain the bran and large pieces of cracked rye for the crust. You will need to sift another cup or so, to get 2 1/4 cups of rye flour (300 grams). If you have medium or light rye flour, do not sieve.
• Mix the rye flour with a cup (250 grams) of water and about 2 tablespoons of rye starter (30 grams) which can come straight from the refrigerator. Feed the starter , while you are at it, then return to the refrigerator.
• When those three ingredients are thoroughly wetted, cover with a lid or plastic and let it ferment at room temperature (about 75 F) for 16 hours. If it is colder than 75 F, you might let it ferment a bit longer.
• You will not see any physical change in the wet, sticky dough, but you should smell a strong, sourdough smell.
• Use the entire rye sourdough and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix with a stand mixer for about 7 minutes on low with a dough hook.
• Turn onto a clean board and knead a few times with your wet hands. The dough is firm but sticky, wetting your hands will keep it from sticking too badly. Form into a ball, place in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth for 30 minutes at room temperature. You may see some rise. For rolls: On a lightly floured board, form dough into 100 gram balls, flatten to rectangles and shape into 4 inch baguettes. Dip the rolls into water and then roll in leftover rye bran or just roll in some white flour for a rustic look (no water). Makes 11 rolls. For bread: Divide dough into two parts and shape into boules ( pictorial ) or a batard ( video ).
• Let bread or rolls rise for 70 minutes on parchment paper, covered with a damp cloth.
• Preheat oven, preferably with baking stone, for 60 minutes at 450 F.
• Slash rolls or bread with a lame or razor blade.
• Slide the parchment with the rolls onto the baking stone, if you can. Bake with steam (5 minutes of steam) for 25 to 30 minutes (bread 40 to 50 minutes) and turn oven down to 400 F as soon as you put the dough into the oven.
• Cool bread on racks for dry crusts and eat or freeze as you like. The rolls make great cocktail breads when cut into thin slices.

GERMAN DARK RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, cocoa, yeast, and caraway seed.
• Heat and stir molasses, butter, sugar, 2 cups water and 2 Tablespoons oil until warm (about 110°-115°F).
• Add to dry mixture.
• Beat at low speed on electric mixer 1/2 minutes, scraping bowl.
• Beat 3 minutes at high speed.
• Then by hand, stir in enough rye flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead till smooth (about 5 minutes).
• **Cover, and let rest 20 minutes.
• Punch down dough.
• Divide in half.
• Shape into 2 round or oval loaves on greased baking sheets.
• Brush with small amount of cooking oil.
• Slash tops with knife.
• Cover; let rise until double (45-60 minutes).
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Remove from baking sheets, place on racks to cool.
• **Note:If using this recipe to make a light/dark"marbled" rye loaf, knead both the light and dark doughs separately for about 3 minutes or so, then combine the light and dark doughs and knead them together for another minute or so (to produce the marbled effect).
• Proceed with the recipe as stated.

GERMAN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a large bowl combine milk, sugar, and salt. Use a mixer to beat in molasses, butter, yeast mixture, and 1 cup of rye flour.
• Use a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining rye flour. Add white flour by stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• Knead 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as needed. If the dough sticks to your hands or the board add more flour.
• Cover dough and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until double.
• Punch down dough and divide to form two round loaves. Let loaves rise on a greased baking sheet until double, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

ROGGENBROT (RYE BREAD)

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a large bowl combine milk, sugar, and salt.
• Use a mixer to beat in molasses, butter, yeast mixture and 1 cup of rye flour.
• Use a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining rye flour.
• Add white flour by stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• Knead 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as needed.
• If the dough sticks to your hands or the board add more flour.
• Cover dough and let rise 1 1/2 hours or until double.
• Punch down dough and divide to form 2 round loaves.
• Let loaves rise on a greased baking sheet until double, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Makes 2 round loaves.

ROGGENBROT (GERMAN RYE HARDBREAD)

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast into warm water. In a large bowl combine your milk, sugar, and you salt. Use your mixer to blend in molasses, butter, and yeast mixture and add 1 Cup of rye flour.
• Use a wooden spoon to mix in remaining rye flour. Add white flour, stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• Knead for 5 to 10 minutes with the heal of you hands. If the dough sticks to your hands or the board, sprinkle flour on the board or dough as needed.
• Place dough on floured board, put a warm damp cloth on top of dough rise from 1 to 1 1/2 hours or till double in size. Punch down the dough and divide to form 2 round loaves. Sprinkle cornmeal on the baking sheet or stone. Let the loaves rise on a cooking sheet or baking stone. If you are using bread pans lightly grease and dust with cornmeal. Let loaves rise 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375* Bake for 30-35 minutes. Take out and turn on to rack, brush the top with melted butter. Yields 2 loaves.