Description
Delightful Italian puff bread brings rustic charm straight from Mediterranean kitchens with golden, airy perfection. Crispy exterior and pillowy interior promise a delectable journey through authentic Italian baking traditions you can easily master at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour for a chewier texture)
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Yeast Activation:
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon honey (or sugar)
Finishing:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for drizzling)
- Additional warm water as needed
Instructions
- Energize the yeast by whisking it with honey in tepid water, creating a frothy, active culture within 5-10 minutes.
- Sift flour and salt into a spacious mixing vessel, forming a pristine foundation for your bread.
- Pour the activated yeast elixir and olive oil into the flour mixture, blending until a cohesive, slightly tacky dough emerges.
- Adjust moisture by incorporating warm water sparingly if the dough feels excessively dry or resistant.
- Transfer the raw dough onto a flour-dusted work surface, kneading rhythmically for 8-10 minutes until achieving a silky, responsive texture.
- Nestle the dough into a lightly lubricated bowl, drape with a moistened cloth, and allow it to proliferate in a warm environment for approximately one hour.
- Deflate the risen dough with gentle pressure, then extend it into a rectangular canvas approximately 12×8 inches.
- Gracefully anoint the surface with a delicate olive oil drizzle, then fold the edges inward, mimicking an elegant letter-fold technique.
- Transform the folded dough into a cylindrical shape, shield with a dampened cloth, and grant it a brief 10-minute respite.
- Prepare for baking by preheating your oven and selecting an appropriate baking surface to complete your culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Measure ingredients precisely to achieve the perfect texture, as yeast breads are sensitive to moisture and ingredient ratios.
- Use lukewarm water when activating yeast to ensure optimal fermentation without killing the live cultures.
- Experiment with flour substitutions like whole wheat or gluten-free blends for dietary modifications, but expect slight changes in texture and rise.
- Allow sufficient rising time in a warm, draft-free area to develop rich flavor and achieve a light, airy interior of the puff bread.
- Prep Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg