Chewy French Bread
Fluffy French bread has never been easier! This simple recipe produces a perfect loaf of French bread that will rival any bakery with a super easy trick to get that crisp, soft, fluffy outside crust inside.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 Tablespoon white sugar
- 2 1/2 cups warm water - not hot, not cold!
- 1 Tablespoon yeast - I use Red Star
- 5-6 cups all-purpose flour - or until right consistency
Instructions
First, in a large stand mixer, mix the yeast, sugar, salt and warm water. Be careful to use lukewarm, not hot, water.
Then, mix and let stand for about 15 minutes to make the yeast work.
Gradually add 5-6 cups of flour until you get the right consistency. You want the dough to be soft but not too sticky.
Grease a large bowl with canola oil and add the batter. Hit the dough into a pretty smooth ball. Cover with a clean cloth and place it in a warm corner of your kitchen.
Let the dough rise until it doubles in size. Hit and smooth it, then let it rise.
Form two large oblong shapes (or you can make several buns or even buns). Place on a large greased cookie sheet or on a French bread pan. Cover with a towel and let rise again, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Cut the slits on the buns with scissors or a serrated knife. Mix an egg white and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and brush this mixture on the breads.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until the bottom is slightly brown and crisp, and the top is nice and golden brown. Remove and let cool on a cooking grid. Happy Cooking Time.
