Whole Grain Artisan Free Form Loaf Recipes

WHOLE-GRAIN ARTISAN FREE-FORM LOAF

Steps:

• In bowl of a 14-cup food processor with dough attachment, or heavy-duty stand mixer with paddle, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, yeast, salt and wheat gluten. Add 4 cups lukewarm (100 degrees) water and mix just until well blended, about 2 minutes; dough will be very wet and loose.
• Transfer dough to a container with a slightly vented lid, or a bowl covered loosely with plastic wrap. Allow dough to rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse, about 2 hours; longer rising times (even overnight) will not harm dough. After rising, cover securely and refrigerate, and use dough over the next 14 days. Do not punch down or knead dough at any time.
• To bake: Prepare a baking peel by sprinkling liberally with cornmeal, or line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Tear off a 1-pound (grapefruit-size) mass of dough, and dust very lightly with flour. Quickly shape into a ball, stretching surface so that it is smooth. Stretch ball gently to elongate it, and place on baking peel. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 90 minutes for refrigerated dough, or 40 minutes for fresh unrefrigerated dough.
• Thirty minutes before baking, heat oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone placed on middle rack, and an empty broiler tray on a lower rack or bottom of oven. Just before baking, use a pastry brush to paint top of loaf with water. Sprinkle with seeds if desired. Slide loaf onto pizza peel or place on baking pan and put in oven. Quickly pour 1 cup hot water into broiler tray in oven, and close door. Bake until richly browned and firm to touch, about 30 minutes; adjust baking times as needed for larger or smaller loaves. For best texture, allow bread to cool before serving.

WHOLE GRAIN ARTISAN BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, stir warm water, yeast and sugar until yeast is dissolved. Stir in whole wheat flour and rye flour with whisk until mixture is smooth. Cover and let stand in warm place 1 hour or until mixture is bubbly and has doubled in size.
• Stir in salt and 1 1/2 cups of the bread flour, slowly adding additional bread flour as necessary to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with oil. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
• Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper and sprinkle center with cornmeal. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Shape dough into round ball by tightly pulling edges under to form smooth top. Place on cookie sheet and press dough to flatten slightly. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray and let rise in warm place 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, about 20 minutes before baking, place pizza stone on oven rack. Heat oven to 425°F.
• Using small strainer, sprinkle 1 teaspoon bread flour over top of dough. Using sharp serrated knife, cut 4 (1/4-inch-deep) slashes on top of loaf then make 4 diagonal cuts to create crisscross pattern. Slide dough and parchment paper from cookie sheet onto pizza stone.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until crisp golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.