Ingredients
- 3.5 cups of warm water at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- 2.5 teaspoons of dry yeast
- 0.25 cups of sugar
- 2.5 teaspoons of salt
- 8 to 9 cups of all-purpose flower
Preparation
Add one teaspoon of sugar and the dry yeast to the warm water. Set aside for 10 minutes.
After the 10 minutes, in a large mixing bowl, mix 8 cups of all-purpose flour with the salt, sugar and water with the fermented yeast. Mix until a dough is formed. Move to a table and, if needed, add more flour to avoid the dough sticks to the table. Knead the dough, extending it into the table and folding it over itself multiple times, for ten minutes. Make a ball of dough and cover it with a damp cloth (alternatively, you can use a plastic film). Leave it rest for one and a half hour.
After resting time is over, knead the dough a little bit more by pressing it firmly to remove the air from its inside. Then, shape the dough into a large cylinder and cut into 80gr to 100gr pieces (you should get around 20 pieces). Shape the pieces into individual bread loafs (alternatively, you can make two or three large bread loafs). Cover the loafs with a damp cloth and leave them rest for 50 minutes.
After the 50-minute rest, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (390 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake the loafs for 20 to 25 minutes.
Enjoy this French style bread with your favorite selection of cheeses, hams, and wine!
Additional Information
Servings and Preparation Time. This recipe serves 10 and requires about 180 to 200 minutes to be prepared.