Ingredients:
- 2 cups bread flour (see note below)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. quick/rapid-rise yeast
Preparation:
1. Using the dough hook on your stand mixer*, combine all-purpose flour, 2 cups bread flour, water, salt, sugar, olive oil, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer -scraping down sides as needed - at low speed until blended. Add additional flour if needed, but dough should be a bit sticky.
2. Increase speed to medium and knead for eight minutes.
3. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board* and form into a ball.
4. Clean and dry mixing bowl and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, seam-side down, and spray top lightly with oil.
5. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
6. Turn dough out onto the floured board and knead for 2 minutes. Divide in two, and form into balls.
7. Let dough rest for 15 minutes then flatten out into discs 7 - 8 inches in diameter.
8. Place each disc on a baking sheet, and poke all over with a fork.
9. Cover with plastic sprayed with oil and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
10. If you have a baking stone* place it on a rack in the center of the ove. Preheat the oven to 425F.
11. Bake each loaf for 20 to 25 minutes until well-browned. Cool on a wire rack completely before slicing.
Note 1: You can use only all-purpose flour if you wish, but the bread flour adds a bit more chewiness.
Note 2: This bread freezes well if wrapped in a couple of sheets of plastic and stored in a zippered bag.
*Note: If you'd like to see a list of the equipment and books I rely on to bake bread check this list out.
- Muffaletta Sandwich: A Taste of New Orleans
- Muffaletta Olive Salad: Intense, Outstanding