The French Bread

Name: The French Bread
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 16 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 tbsp Active Dry Yeast; 4 cups All-Purpose Flour; 2 cups Bottled Water; 2 tsp Cornmeal; 1 whole Eggs; 1 tbsp Milk; 1.5 tsp Olive Oil; 1 tsp Salt; 2 cups Sourdough Starter; 1 tbsp Sugar; 10 tbsp Water

Breakfast 🍳Side Dish 🥗Snack 🍿 French 🇫🇷 Low-Sodium Heart-Healthy ❤️Vegetarian 🥦Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Pescatarian 🐟

This sourdough-based French bread bakes up with a chewy interior, crisp golden crust, and subtle tang. A steamy oven and glossy egg wash help deliver bakery-style texture, perfect for sharing with soups, cheese boards, or sandwiches. The French Bread highlights the aroma of fresh loaves and the hearty bite of artisan-style baking.

Prep20 mins
Cook15 mins
Serves16
DifficultyMedium

1

Add the sourdough starter, water, olive oil, salt, sugar, yeast, and flour to the bread machine pan in that order, set the machine to the dough cycle, and start it.
2

When the machine completes its cycle, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead several times; add more flour if the dough is very sticky.
3

Cut the dough in half, and roll each piece into a rectangle about 8 by 12 inches and 1/2 inch thick.
4

Roll the rectangles into loaves lengthwise, pinch the seams, and taper and pinch the ends of the loaves.
5

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle the paper with cornmeal.
6

Set the loaves gently on the prepared baking sheets, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 00:30:00.
7

Place a large baking stone on the center oven rack and a baking dish on a lower rack.
8

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
9

Carefully pour boiling water into the baking dish.
10

Remove the plastic wrap from the loaves and make several 1/2-inch-deep slashes in each loaf with a sharp knife.
11

Whisk the egg yolk and milk together in a small bowl until fully combined, and brush the loaves with the egg yolk mixture.
12

Place the loaves in the preheated oven on the baking stone, and quickly spray the inside of the oven 4 or 5 times with a spray bottle filled with water.
13

Close the oven door, wait 1 minute, and spray again; repeat twice more, spraying the oven 4 times with water at 1-minute intervals.
14

Bake for about 15 minutes, then remove the water-filled baking dish.
15

Continue baking until the bread is browned and the loaves sound hollow when tapped, about 15 more minutes.
16

Transfer the bread to racks to cool.