Chef John’s Cuban Bread

Jun 03, 2023June 3, 20230 17
Chef John's Cuban Bread Recipe for Authentic Cuban Bread at Home
in Bread

Prep

30 min

Cook

30 min

Ready In

3 hours

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

Starter :
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup flour
Dough :
1 package active dry yeast
2 teaspoons white sugar
3/4 cup warm water
3 tablespoons lard
2 teaspoons fine salt
3 cups all-purpose flour , or as needed - divided
1 tablespoon cornmeal
Water to spray tops of loaves

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
12
Calories
180
Sugar
1g
Fat
3g
Cuban bread is a traditional bread from Cuba that is now enjoyed by many across the world. Its unique taste and texture make it a popular choice for making sandwiches and toast. Chef John's Cuban Bread recipe is authentic and easy to follow, ensuring that anyone can enjoy the taste of Cuban bread in their own home. The bread is perfect for a family dinner or for making sandwiches for a picnic or school lunch. It is also a great option for those who want to try their hand at baking bread.

Instructions

1.Starter:
2.Dissolve active dry yeast in warm water in a bowl.
3.Add in flour and whisk until fully combined.
4.Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
5.Dough:
6.In a large mixing bowl, mix the starter with active dry yeast, sugar, warm water,
7.lard and salt. Give it a good stir until well combined.
8.Keep adding flour in small amounts at a time until the dough comes together and it
9.no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. You may not need all the flour or need
10.to add a little more to get a workable dough.
11.Lightly flour your work surface and knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it
12.becomes smooth and elastic.
13.Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic, and let it rise until it
14.doubles in size (about 45 minutes to an hour).
15.Gently punch the risen dough to release air, divide the dough in half and shape it
16.into loaves.
17.Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal and place the loaves accordingly. Cover them with
18.a towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes or until they double in size.
19.Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
20.Gently spray the tops of the loaves with water and slice the tops with a sharp
21.knife a few times.
22.Bake the bread for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

PROS

Chef John’s Cuban Bread is a bakery-style loaf that has a crispy crust and a soft and chewy inside that makes every bite a delight.

It has an authentic Cuban bread taste and texture that is perfect for making sandwiches.

CONS

The preparation of the bread is time-consuming and requires patience, but the end result is worth it.

The bread may go stale quickly and needs to be consumed within a day or two.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While Chef John’s Cuban Bread is not the healthiest option, it is a good source of carbohydrates and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. It is also free from preservatives that are commonly found in store-bought bread.

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