Baking Classics
The Technique
Ficelle
Ficelle is no more than a thinner variation of a classic French baguette that measures approximately 2 1/2-inch wide in center. It’s incredibly simple to replicate in your own kitchen & makes a wonderful accompaniment to main dish or appetizer recipes such as Rosemary-Pine Nut Olive Tapenade. A little bread flour, all purpose flour, water, yeast & salt are all that is needed to get a batch started & with my detailed instruction, you will be well on your way to making this culinary classic. Learn the technique.
Ficelle
makes 4 {8-ounce} loaves
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 {1/4-ounce} package active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Stir together the water & the yeast in a measuring cup. Let stand 5 minutes or until foamy. Meanwhile, whisk together the flours & the salt in the work bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture & blend on Low speed 30 seconds. Once the dough comes together, blend on Medium speed 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a ball & place in a lightly greased large bowl. Coat the surface with cooking spray & cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot free from drafts 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the dough doubles in size. Lightly press the dough down with your fingertips. Place it onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 4 {8-ounce} portions. Working with one piece of dough at a time, flatten it into a 10-inch oval shape pressing out any excessive bubbles. Fold the top piece of the dough to the center & press it down. Then fold in half again in the same direction & press it down to seal. Repeat the procedure one additional time until a single seam has been created. Pinch the seam together tightly, if desired. Flip the shaped dough over. Starting in the center, gently rock it back & forth to the outer edges to create a 15-inch long baguette shape. Place the shaped dough on one side of a parchment paper-lined half sheet pan that has been sprinkled with a bit of bread flour. Repeat the procedure with the remaining dough portions fitting two pieces on each pan. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap. Allow to rise 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Position one rack on the lowest position in the oven. Place a 13 x 9-inch baking pan filled 2/3 full with water on the rack. Position a second rack directly above it. Place two inverted cast iron skillets directly on the rack. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Working with one pan at a time, slash the dough surface using a sharp paring knife or a new razor blade several times down the length of the shape to create a decorative pattern. Place one half sheet pan at a time in the oven directly over the inverted cast iron skillets. Add 1/2 cup ice to the pan of water. Quickly close the oven door. Bake 15 minutes. Rotate the half sheet pan & add 1/2 cup ice cubes to the pan of water. Quickly close the oven door. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped or registers at least 200 degrees. Remove the bread from oven. Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees & repeat the procedure with the remaining sheet pan. Cool completely before slicing.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{testing notes}
How To Make Ficelle
Ficelle pairs perfectly with a variety of soups such as Tourin & Garbure for quality family meals but you should also look to this bread for a host of upcoming entertaining needs as it makes a wonderful accompaniment to Rosemary Chicken Pâté. Make the bread now, cut it into slices & tuck away in zip top bags in the freezer.
The Technique
A few pieces of equipment will be needed in order to complete the task. Read through the recipe instructions before beginning. Here’s what you should know.
No. 1
The First Rise
Stir together the water & the yeast in a measuring cup. Let stand 5 minutes or until foamy. Meanwhile, whisk together the flours & the salt in the work bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture & blend on Low speed 30 seconds. Once the dough comes together, blend on Medium speed 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a ball.
1a
Place in a lightly greased large bowl. Coat the surface with cooking spray & cover with plastic wrap.
1b
Let rise in a warm spot free from drafts 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the dough doubles in size.
1c
Lightly press the dough down with your fingertips & place it onto a lightly floured work surface.
No. 2
The Shaping
Divide the dough into 4 {8-ounce} portions. Working with one piece of dough at a time, flatten it into a 10-inch oval shape pressing out any excessive bubbles. Fold the top piece of the dough to the center & press it down.
2a
Then fold in half again in the same direction & press it down to seal.
2b
Repeat the procedure one additional time until a single seam has been created.
2c
Pinch the seam together tightly, if desired. Flip the shaped dough over. Starting in the center, gently rock it back & forth to the outer edges to create a 15-inch long baguette shape.
No. 3
The Second Rise
Place the shaped dough on one side of a parchment paper-lined half sheet pan that has been sprinkled with a bit of bread flour. Repeat the procedure with the remaining dough portions fitting two pieces on each pan. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap. Allow to rise 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3a
Position one rack on the lowest position in the oven. Place a 13 x 9-inch baking pan filled 2/3 full with water on the rack. Position a second rack directly above it. Place two inverted cast iron skillets directly on the rack. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Working with one pan at a time, slash the dough surface using a sharp paring knife or a new razor blade several times down the length of the shape to create a decorative pattern.
No. 4
The Baking
Place one half sheet pan at a time in the oven directly over the inverted cast iron skillets. Add 1/2 cup ice to the pan of water. Quickly close the oven door. Bake 15 minutes. Rotate the half sheet pan & add 1/2 cup ice cubes to the pan of water. Quickly close the oven door. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped or registers at least 200 degrees. Remove the bread from oven. Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees & repeat the procedure with the remaining sheet pan. Cool completely before slicing.
The Tune
“My Dearest Darling” Etta James
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