- 3/4 cup buckwheat flour (3 1/2 oz)
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (5 oz)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (9 oz)
- 2 1/4 t. granulated yeast
- 1 1/2 t. coarse salt
- 1/8 cup vital wheat gluten (2 T or .6 oz)
- 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water
Using glass bowl or cup, dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Put
buckwheat flour, wheat flour, all-purpose flour and gluten into large
plastic mixing bowl, incorporate salt into flour. Using a
wooden mixing spoon, add water with yeast to flour mixture, making sure
everything is uniformly moist. Dough should be wet and loose enough to
conform to shape of container. Cover with a loose fitting lid. Allow
mixture to rise for approximately 2 hours, depending on room temp and
initial water temp. Longer rising time will not harm the result.
You can use a portion of the dough anytime after this period.
However, flavor will be best after at least 24 hours of refrigeration.
Any dough not initially used can be refrigerated in same bowl with loose
lid for up to 10 days.
To bake a loaf of bread, sprinkle flour on work surface, divide with
your hands, a grapefruit size portion of dough, dusting a bit of the
flour on the outside of the portion of the dough, not really mixing any
of the flour into the dough. Most of the dusting flour will fall off.
Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four
sides, shaping the dough into a ball. No kneading required. The
entire process should take no more than 30 to 60 seconds. Place on
parchment paper, cut to size of dutch oven. Cover loaf with towel and
let rise for 40 mins.
Before placing in heated oven, dust with flour and make 3 slashes,
1/4 inch deep, across the top, using a serrated knife. (if refrigerated
dough is used, allow more resting time before baking).
The method of baking to be addressed here is to use a cast iron dutch
oven (10 or 12 inch size). One of 3 methods can be used for baking.
At home in your kitchen oven; or outside using either charcoal or wood
coals.
While dough is rising, preheat dutch oven to approximately 500
degrees. Use a trivet in bottom of oven, and preheat with lid on. When
temp is reached, carefully place dough (with parchment paper on bottom)
in oven and replace lid. Use insulated glove while doing this.
Bake for 35 minutes at 450 degree. When using indoor oven, remove
lid for last 5 minutes. Carefully remove loaf from oven and place on
cooling rack. Slice at will.
Stan has been using this recipe for 28 years....