Rosemary Olive Oil Bread
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups water (105-115 degrees)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (for kneading)
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (preferably organic)
- 1/4 cup fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- cornmeal (for sprinkling)
- ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT: 2 cups basic bread sponge (from my basic bread sponge recipe).
- I made this with the originally recommended amount of salt. I'd suggest halving the salt unless you like really salty bread.
- Measure the rosemary *after* chopping.
- In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. Allow to proof for three minutes.
- Stir the sponge and 3 tablespoons oil into the water, breaking the sponge up using your hands or a spoon. Stir in the rosemary and salt.
- Add 3 cups of the unbleached flour, the whole wheat flour, and salt and mix, scraping and folding until the dough gathers into a single mass which will be wet and sticky with strands hanging from your fingers.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and allow to rest for 3 minutes. knead in as much of the 1/3 cup of flour as is required to make a smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky dough (use as little flour as is possible). Shape into a ball.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, brush the top of the dough with additional oil, and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove from the refrigerator and allow to warm-up in a draft-free spot for two hours.
- Sprinkle a baking sheet without sides generously with cornmeal. On a floured work surface, halve the dough and then shape one piece into a ball, pressing to remove any large bubbles at the edges. Place the dough-ball on the baking sheet, being sure to put the seam on the bottom. Repeat with the second ball, leaving 3 to 4 inches between the two. Cover with plastic and allow to rise until doubled, in a draft-free location. This should take 2-2 1/2 hours. These loaves will be flat and wide.
- Preheat the oven for at least thirty minutes along with a baking stone or tiles on the middle rack to 425. Place a baking pan with decent sides on the bottom shelf. Boil two cups of water. Brush the loaves again with oil and then, using a razor blade, make a tic-tac-toe pattern in the top of each of the loaves - do not tear the dough, you want to cut it. Pour the boiling water into the baking pan. Slide the loaves off the sheet and onto the stone.
- Bake for 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350 and then bake for another 30-35 minutes until the loaves are a light golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom. When done, brush with additional olive oil and transfer to cool on a rack.
active dry yeast, water, extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, flour, flour, whole wheat flour, fresh rosemary, kosher salt, cornmeal
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/rosemary-olive-oil-bread-506940 (may not work)