Fermenting.
I decided to make 2 small loaves, so hence, 6 balls to roll out into strands.
Braiding bread is much like braiding hair. You begin in the middle, then tuck and fold the ends underneath. Then you flip the half-braided loaf around to face you and tuck the two outer strands underneath the middle one repeatedly, then pinch them together as a seal.
I applied the egg wash, sprayed with olive oil, and then let them sit for an hour.
Recipe:
4 cups unbleached bread flour (I use King Arthur flour; it really is the best.)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt (I used 4 pinches---I don't like things too salty.)
1 1/3 tsp instant yeast
2 tbsp vegetable oil (I used canola.)
2 large eggs, slightly beaten*
2 large egg yolks, slightly beaten*
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp water, at room temp.
2 egg whites, whisked until frothy, for egg wash
sesame seeds (I didn't use these, but you can...)
*I didn't beat the eggs before combining with the other wet ingredients---why bother?
1.) Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together in a bowl. Then, mix the veg. oil, eggs, egg yolks, and water together. Combine all ingredients until mixture forms a ball.
2.) Knead for 10 min.
3.) Oil a large bowl, put your dough in it, then cover with plastic wrap and let sit for one hour.
4.) Remove ball of dough and knead for 2 minutes (for degassing).
5.) Return ball of dough to bowl and ferment for another hour.
6.) Divide dough into 3 pieces for a large loaf, or 6 for two loaves. Form the dough pieces into boules and let sit for 10 min.
7.) Braid the pieces together. Place the formed loaves onto a pan with parchment paper, brush with egg wash, spray loaves with oil, and cover with plastic wrap. Proof for 1 hr to 1 hr. 15 min (or when the dough reaches 1.5x its original size).
8.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, bake for 20 min., rotate the pan, and bake again for 20-45 min. (size dependent).
9.) Let the bread cool down for one hour before slicing and eating (yeah right!). Enjoy. :D
4 cups unbleached bread flour (I use King Arthur flour; it really is the best.)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt (I used 4 pinches---I don't like things too salty.)
1 1/3 tsp instant yeast
2 tbsp vegetable oil (I used canola.)
2 large eggs, slightly beaten*
2 large egg yolks, slightly beaten*
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp water, at room temp.
2 egg whites, whisked until frothy, for egg wash
sesame seeds (I didn't use these, but you can...)
*I didn't beat the eggs before combining with the other wet ingredients---why bother?
1.) Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together in a bowl. Then, mix the veg. oil, eggs, egg yolks, and water together. Combine all ingredients until mixture forms a ball.
2.) Knead for 10 min.
3.) Oil a large bowl, put your dough in it, then cover with plastic wrap and let sit for one hour.
4.) Remove ball of dough and knead for 2 minutes (for degassing).
5.) Return ball of dough to bowl and ferment for another hour.
6.) Divide dough into 3 pieces for a large loaf, or 6 for two loaves. Form the dough pieces into boules and let sit for 10 min.
7.) Braid the pieces together. Place the formed loaves onto a pan with parchment paper, brush with egg wash, spray loaves with oil, and cover with plastic wrap. Proof for 1 hr to 1 hr. 15 min (or when the dough reaches 1.5x its original size).
8.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, bake for 20 min., rotate the pan, and bake again for 20-45 min. (size dependent).
9.) Let the bread cool down for one hour before slicing and eating (yeah right!). Enjoy. :D
This is after proofing. They got huge. :-O
The bread looks amazing!
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