Description
Bake a classic French Batard bread loaf at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. Enjoy the crisp crust and soft, airy interior of a homemade batard, perfect for sandwiches, dipping, or serving with meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups (420g) of bread flour
- 1 3/4 cups (420ml) of lukewarm water
- 1 teaspoon (6g) of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) of instant dry yeast
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and instant dry yeast. Add lukewarm water and mix until a shaggy dough forms. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for 2-3 hours at room temperature, performing stretch and folds every 30 minutes during the first hour.
- Gently turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a rectangle, fold the top third down, and the bottom third up. Roll tightly to form a batard loaf.
- Place the shaped batard bread in a well-floured proofing basket or linen-lined bowl. Cover and proof for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C) with a Dutch oven inside. Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven, score the top of the batard loaf, and place it inside. Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200-210°F (93-99°C).
- Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- Use high-quality bread flour for the best texture.
- Ensure water is lukewarm (around 105-115°F or 40-46°C) to activate the yeast properly.
- Don’t skip the stretch and fold process for developing gluten strength.
- Scoring the dough before baking allows for controlled expansion.
- Cool the batard bread completely on a wire rack before slicing to prevent a gummy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of loaf)
- Calories: 180 Kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg