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Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day
A few years back I was doing a lot of bread baking. I worked my way through a good portion of The Italian Baker by Carol Field and the Italian bread recipes from The Bread Baker’s Apprentice
by Peter Reinhart. I made a mean Pane Pugliese. As much as I enjoyed the process and especially the results, baking bread at home is something you have to make time for and 2 children later that time is harder to find.
by Peter Reinhart. I made a mean Pane Pugliese. As much as I enjoyed the process and especially the results, baking bread at home is something you have to make time for and 2 children later that time is harder to find.When I saw Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day
by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois in the bookstore I was intrigued but skeptical. The thought of being able to make good bread without setting aside an entire morning was pretty exciting so I decide to pick the book up. I had it sitting on my shelf for a couple of months before trying the master recipe, but I am really impressed by the results of my first attempt.
by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois in the bookstore I was intrigued but skeptical. The thought of being able to make good bread without setting aside an entire morning was pretty exciting so I decide to pick the book up. I had it sitting on my shelf for a couple of months before trying the master recipe, but I am really impressed by the results of my first attempt. The concept behind the book is making a large batch of high moisture dough (enough to make four 1-pound loaves), mixing it just enough to form the dough, no kneading. The dough is then covered and left to rise for two hours before being stored in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. When you want to bake a loaf you cut off a piece of dough, shaping it quickly, again no kneading, and let it rest for 40 minutes. Then you pop it into the oven and bake for 30 minutes and you have hot fresh-baked bread.
While five minutes a day is a Barnum-esque claim (it actually refers to active time spent shaping the bread), the technique is still quite a time saver. Being able to have really good Artisan bread made in less than two hours of deciding to make it is pretty amazing. Many of the concepts used in the book are techniques that I have used before, the high moisture dough is necessary for getting that airy open crumb that is prized in breads like ciabatta. I have also retarded loaves in the refrigerator overnight before.
The four loaves of bread I made with my first batch were all very good, especially the last one which I made a week after initially making the dough. Sitting in the fridge for 7 days gave it a bit of a sourdough flavor, which was nice. I also feel my dough could have been wetter, so I made a new batch of dough for this week adding some water, the dough came out more like my ciabatta so I think this is going to make some good loaves. The authors encourage this kind of experimentation. If the bread comes out like I hope I will post some pictures.
Update – We have been given permission to reprint the master recipe:
The Master Recipe: Boule (Artisan Free-Form Loaf)
Hi Phil, I came across your website a while ago while looking for a chicken marsala recipe (your recipe was excellent!).
I was so intrigued by the artisan bread you discuss that I added the book to my wishlist (I actually want to take a look at all 3 books you mention).
I currently bake a plain white loaf every week or 2 and want to try something different. I used to work in an Italian bakery years ago and miss the breads they used to make.
Mar 03, 2009 @ 11:11 am
BREAD SOUNDS GREAT .I’D LOVE TO TRY IT
Mar 20, 2009 @ 7:42 pm
Thanks
Mar 21, 2009 @ 11:08 am
I tried several recepes,did not have much luck with them.I would like to try this” Artisan Bread in five minutes”I am looking forward to see the recepe, thanks
Mar 27, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
found thu=is recipe
Apr 03, 2009 @ 6:46 pm
Can I please have the recipe for this Artisan Bread? Thank you so much!
Apr 06, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
May I ahev the recipe please. I want to find the book also.
Apr 10, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
May I ahev the recipe please.
Apr 10, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
WOULD ALSO LOVE THE BREAD RECIPE FOR THE ARTISAN BREAD I 5 MINUTES A DAY,
CAN’T WAIT
JSLAUG
Apr 13, 2009 @ 10:36 am
I make bread in a bread machine but would love to have a dough that is readily available every day
Apr 17, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Is the recipe available or is it only in the book?
May 02, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
Looks great! I would to try it.
May 05, 2009 @ 11:02 am
I am trying to get permission from the publisher to reprint the master recipe here. Will post it when/if I get permission.
May 05, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
If you get permission I would love to have the recipe. Also some tips. I have only made bread twice and it was not a good experience. So I would really like to try again. If you have a simple recipe for French or Italian bread, please pass that on.
Thank you
May 06, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
The website is http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com and it has a section with links to how-to-videos. I am making this bread since last December now, and have abandoned my bread machine for it. It’s the best and easiest bread ever !
May 10, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
I have been a sometimes bread maker for the past 30 or so years but since I discovered this recipe our everyday bread is a breeze. Got home from work last night and made naan to have with our meal, sticky walnut rolls to have with with a cup of tea for dessert and bread for the next couple of days-all in a couple of hours while making dinner and watching the TV. I would recommend anyone to try. Lately I’ve been making the master recipe with half white and half wholemeal flour-has a beautiful sourdough flavour after a couple of days of storage.
Aug 07, 2009 @ 8:09 pm