Bread made with an old dough / pâte fermentée has a more complex flavour and texture. Use an old dough (Pâte Fermentée) saved from the previous baking, or simply mix together 105 grams of flour, 70ml of water, 2 grams of salt and tiny tiny bit of yeast until a dough forms and leave it, covered with a plastic film, at the kitchen counter overnight. You can double the portion and save the rest in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Aromatic bluegray tiny Poppy Seeds
Another loaf baked with an old dough and wholemeal flour.
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar and instant yeast. Add in milk, egg and olive oil. Mix the ingredients until combined. Add in old dough in portions and baking soda. Knead until a soft and smooth dough ball forms. Stir in the two thirds of poppy seeds and mix on the slow speed until incorporated. Alternatively sprinkle all the poppy seeds over the bread before baking.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a plastic wrap and let proof until doubled in size. Press the dough down and divide it into 4 or 6 even portions, each about 260 grams or 175 grams. Shape each dough into a ball and let rest, covered, for 10 minutes. One alternative is to divide the dough into 16 even portions for the individual buns.
- Flatten each dough and roll out into an oval shape. Fold it into thirds, overlapping them in the center, press the dough down firmly. Turn over and roll out into a 30-cm long strip. Turn over, roll up and pinch seam to seal. Place 3 rolls, seam side down into a greased and floured loaf pan or lined with parchment paper. Cover and let rise until almost to the seam of the baking pan.
- Once the dough has risen, brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle the rest of poppy seeds over. Bake in the middle rack of a preheated 200C/400F oven for 15 minutes. Adjust the oven temperature to 175C/350F and bake 18 minutes further or until done. Immediately remove loaves from the pans and cool on a wire rack.
