French Hearth Bread

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 5

Bake your own French Hearth Bread at home with this easy recipe

by The Chefin Bread

Prep

15 min + 12-16 hrs resting time + 2 hrs resting time

Cook

35 min

Ready In

15 hrs + 50 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

Ingredients

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

Calories

150

Sugar

Fat

0.5g

French Hearth Bread, also known as pain de campagne, is a traditional bread from France. It's made with a combination of bread flour and whole wheat or rye flour, and it gets its chewy texture and tangy flavor from a long fermentation process. The bread is typically baked in a hot oven and often sprayed with water to create a steamy environment that helps the crust to form. French Hearth Bread is a versatile bread that can be used in many recipes or enjoyed on its own, and it's a staple of the French diet.

Instructions

1.	In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of bread flour, 1/4 cup of wheat flour, 1/2 teaspoon of instant yeast, and 1 1/4 teaspoons of honey.
2.	Add 1 1/3 cups of room temperature water and mix until the dough is smooth and free of lumps.
3.	Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 12-16 hours at room temperature.
4.	After the dough has rested, add 1 3/4 cups of bread flour, 1 teaspoon of instant yeast, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.
5.	Knead the dough by hand or with a stand mixer until it's smooth and elastic.
6.	Cover the dough and let it rest for another 2 hours.
7.	Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place a baking pan on the bottom shelf of your oven and add a few cups of hot water to it.
8.	Dust a clean surface with flour and shape the dough into a round or oval shape.
9.	Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
10.	Using a sharp knife or razor blade, make a few slashes on the top of the bread.
11.	Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes or until it's golden brown. Let it cool completely before slicing and serving.

PROS

French Hearth Bread is crusty and chewy, with a soft and airy interior.
It’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or to serve with soup.

CONS

The prep time is long due to the dough resting periods, and it requires some effort and patience to make.
The bread also has a relatively short shelf life, so it’s best enjoyed within a few days of baking.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

French Hearth Bread is a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. It’s also low in fat and sugar and contains some protein and essential minerals like iron and selenium. Eating bread made from whole grains has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.

	1 cup bread flour
	1/4 cup wheat flour
	1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
	1 1/4 teaspoons honey
	1 1/3 cups water , room temp
	1 3/4 cups bread flour
	1 teaspoon instant yeast
	1 1/2 teaspoons salt