New leavened bread
This new recipe for leavened bread is simple and delicious, but needs rather long resting times.
If you'd like more more information about making your own bread, look at this dedicated page.
If you'd like more more information about making your own bread, look at this dedicated page.
7 hours
Easy
2 loaves
5 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 2 loaves, you will need:
- 1
6 2⁄3 cups plain white flour (French Type 65) - 2
2 1⁄3 cups water - 3
2 tablespoons fine (or table) salt - 4
2 cups + 2 tablespoons leaven - 5
½ teaspoon yeast
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 50 min.
Resting: 5 hours 30 min.
Cooking: 40 min.
All in all: 7 hours
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
In bread-making, the water temperature is always important. It's not a fixed value, but related to 3 other temperatures: 1) the temperature of your flour, 2) the room temperature in your kitchen, and 3) the basic temperature of this recipe, which is 56-60°C.
You can calculate the temperature of the water for this recipe in one click, using this small calculator.
You can calculate the temperature of the water for this recipe in one click, using this small calculator.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Put into the mixer bowl just 6 2⁄3 cups plain white flour (French Type 65) and 2 1⁄3 cups water at the right temperature.
Knead at minimum speed for 3 minutes.
Knead at minimum speed for 3 minutes.
Stage 3 - 1 hour
Leave the dough in the mixer, cover with a plastic sheet, and leave to rest for 1 hour.
Stage 4 - 3 min.
At the end of this time, add 2 tablespoons fine (or table) salt, 2 cups + 2 tablespoons leaven and ½ teaspoon yeast.
Stage 5 - 10 min.
Knead at minimum speed for 10 minutes.
Note: For the best way to knead, see: A few tips for effective kneading at home.
Note: For the best way to knead, see: A few tips for effective kneading at home.
Stage 6
After kneading, you can check the temperature of the dough, which should be 75°F (24°C), or better try the window-pane test.
Stage 7 - 3 min.
Turn the ugh out onto the worktop and gather into a rough ball.
Stage 8 - 2 hours
Put the dough into a large floured bowl.
Cover with a plastic sheet, and leave to rest in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Cover with a plastic sheet, and leave to rest in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Stage 9 - 3 min.
After resting, tip the dough onto your worktop.
Stage 10 - 10 min.
Divide into lumps of 500 grams (small loaves) or 1 kilo (large loaf).
Stage 11 - 30 min.
Shape each lump of dough into a ball, cover with a plastic sheet and leave to rest for 30 minutes.
Stage 12 - 5 min.
Press the dough flat again before shaping into round or long loaves.
Stage 13 - 3 min.
Put into floured bannetons (rising baskets).
Stage 14 - 2 hours
Cover with a plastic sheet and leave to rest for 2 hours.
Stage 15
As these actions are rather difficult to describe, you can watch this short demonstration video on the right.
Stage 16 - 3 min.
Preheat the oven to 240°C or 464°F.
Dust each loaf with flour, then turn it over onto the peel (bread oven "shovel") and slash it across the top.
Dust each loaf with flour, then turn it over onto the peel (bread oven "shovel") and slash it across the top.
Stage 17 - 40 min.
Put in the for approximately 40 minutes (check near the end of cooking time).
Note: As when baking any bread, you should ensure that the oven is filled with steam for the first 15 minutes of baking. This page shows you how; it really is the secret of golden-brown, crusty loaves..
Note: As when baking any bread, you should ensure that the oven is filled with steam for the first 15 minutes of baking. This page shows you how; it really is the secret of golden-brown, crusty loaves..
Remarks
If you can, try a slow rising by replacing the last 2 hours of resting (stage 8) by 10 hours at 50°F (10°C).
If you'd like more information on making your own bread, you can consult this special page.
Many of you are puzzled by the presence of yeast in a leaven-raised bread. Here is a little clarification of the matter:
The yeast is there to make things easier; for a beginner leaven-raised bread is not easy to get right, especially first time. This is why these few added grams of yeast help. The dough rises more easily, even if your leaven is not at its best, and it makes a lighter crust.
There's nothing shocking in this. You should be aware that even some commercially produced breads advertised as "leavened", also contain a little (more) yeast, for similar reasons, and it's perfectly legal.
In any case, there's no reason to be worried about yeast; it's not a chemical product. It too is a living organism, and it's not added to work against the leaven, rather something you can use alongside if you wish. Being able to proclaim proudly, "I don't use any yeast!" is, in my humble opinion, rather overrated.
That said, adding a little yeast does have one slight drawback, in that it dulls the flavour of the bread somewhat. If you want to make leavened bread for its characteristic flavour, you'll lose a little, even with a small quantity of yeast.
In conclusion, I advise the following approach: if you are just starting out, add a little yeast. Then, once you have mastered the basics and can produce good bread, leave it out. You can then compare both methods and choose.
If you'd like more information on making your own bread, you can consult this special page.
Yeast in leaven-raised bread?
Many of you are puzzled by the presence of yeast in a leaven-raised bread. Here is a little clarification of the matter:
The yeast is there to make things easier; for a beginner leaven-raised bread is not easy to get right, especially first time. This is why these few added grams of yeast help. The dough rises more easily, even if your leaven is not at its best, and it makes a lighter crust.
There's nothing shocking in this. You should be aware that even some commercially produced breads advertised as "leavened", also contain a little (more) yeast, for similar reasons, and it's perfectly legal.
In any case, there's no reason to be worried about yeast; it's not a chemical product. It too is a living organism, and it's not added to work against the leaven, rather something you can use alongside if you wish. Being able to proclaim proudly, "I don't use any yeast!" is, in my humble opinion, rather overrated.
That said, adding a little yeast does have one slight drawback, in that it dulls the flavour of the bread somewhat. If you want to make leavened bread for its characteristic flavour, you'll lose a little, even with a small quantity of yeast.
In conclusion, I advise the following approach: if you are just starting out, add a little yeast. Then, once you have mastered the basics and can produce good bread, leave it out. You can then compare both methods and choose.
Keeping: Several days in a linen bag.
Source: From Thomas Marie of INBP.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 170 RDI=70 % | 1,420 RDI=130 % | 30 RDI=4 % | 4,390 RDI=220 % | 18,390 RDI: 220 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 70 RDI=6 % | 1 RDI=0 % | 210 RDI=10 % | 890 RDI: 10 % |
| Per loave | 90 RDI=30 % | 710 RDI=70 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 2,200 RDI=110 % | 9,190 RDI: 110 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 2 loaves : 2.30 €
- Per loave : 1.15 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Plain white flour (French Type 65)
Like these other recipes: Benoîton, Loaf for "les filles'", French baguettes, Bacon rolls, Roscoff loaf, ... See them all 19
Water
Like these other recipes: Toffee apple upside-down cake, Paella, Minted Melon, Sesame fried scampi, Mojito peaches, ... See them all 135
Leaven
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Jura bread, Saucipain, Old style brioche, Yeast-based flaky dough (for croissants), French baguettes, ... See them all 21
Fine (or table) salt
Like these other recipes: Yeast-based flaky dough (for croissants), Hasselback or "Swedish-style" potatoes, Classic French white bread, Comtoise stuffed tomatoes, Home-made terrine of foie gras, ... See them all 99
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The 3 comments already posted on this recipe
I have just finished a deep improve of the recipe, more simple, more tasty, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!