French Baguette With Poolish

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 2

French Baguette with Poolish Recipe

by The Chefin Bread

Prep

12-16 hrs

Cook

25 min

Ready In

14-18 hrs

Level

Easy

Rating

Ingredients

	200 g all-purpose flour or 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
	200 g water or 7 ounces water
	2 pinches instant yeast
	400 g all-purpose flour or 3 cups all-purpose flour
	200 g water or 7 ounces water
	3 g instant yeast or 1 teaspoon instant yeast
	16 g salt or 2 teaspoons salt
	1 egg ( use with 1 tsp water for glaze if desired )

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

2-3 loaves

Calories

300 per serving

Sugar

1g per serving

Fat

1g per serving

French baguette is a long, thin loaf of bread that is a staple in French cuisine. This recipe uses a poolish, a type of pre-fermentation made from flour, water, and yeast, which gives the bread its characteristic flavor, crust, and texture. At its best, a fresh baguette should have a crispy crust and a soft, chewy texture on the inside. It can be eaten alone or with butter, cheese, or a variety of meats. It is also a popular bread for making classic French sandwiches, such as the croque-monsieur or jambon-beurre.

Instructions

1.	In a large bowl, mix together 200g of all-purpose flour, 200g water, and 2 pinches of instant yeast to form a poolish. Cover and let it sit at room temperature for 12-16 hours.
2.	Next day, combine the poolish with 400g of all-purpose flour, 200g water, and 3g of instant yeast. Mix well until a dough forms.
3.	Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add in 16g of salt and continue kneading until the salt is well incorporated.
4.	Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for 1.5 to 2 hours until it doubles in size.
5.	Preheat the oven to 450°F/230°C. Divide the dough into 2 or 3 equal parts, and shape each part into a baguette.
6.	Score the surface of each baguette with a sharp knife. Brush with an egg wash made with 1 egg and 1 tsp of water.
7.	Bake the baguettes for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crusty. Cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

PROS

French baguette is a classic bread that is simple, yet delicious.
This recipe is easy to follow and yields crispy crust with a soft interior.

Baguette can be served with a variety of dishes and are great for sandwiches.

CONS

This bread can be dry if not eaten fresh and lacks the nutritional value of whole-grain breads.
It is high in carbohydrates and can be a source of empty calories if eaten in large quantities.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While this bread does not have much nutritional value, it is a good source of dietary carbohydrates which can help to provide energy. The fermentation process used to make the poolish also improves digestibility and may increase the bioavailability of some nutrients.