Baguette

Make Baguette at home

Ingredients

• 4 cups (500 g) bread flour
• 1 3/4 cups (400 ml) lukewarm water
• 2 tsp (8 g) fine salt
• 1 tsp (3 g) instant yeast
• Extra flour for dusting
• Ice cubes or hot water for steam

How it's made

1. Stir flour, water, salt and yeast into a shaggy dough and rest 20 minutes.
2. Knead or fold the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Let rise in an oiled bowl, covered, until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
4. Divide into 3 pieces, pre-shape into rectangles and rest 15 minutes.
5. Roll each piece up and stretch to about 14 inches (35 cm), seam side down on a floured towel or baguette pan.
6. Rise 45 minutes; heat the oven to 475 F (245 C) with a pan on the bottom rack.
7. Slash the loaves diagonally, add ice cubes to the hot pan for steam, and bake 20 to 25 minutes until deep golden.