Tuesday, July 5, 2011

9 Grain Ciabatta Whole Grain Bread Tutorial

Grain embedded in the dough of an already chewy and satiating  loaf of bread is probably one of the most satisfying of all the meals on earth. Here it sits. Glory and praise resound for the 9 grain Ciabatta! 

True confessions...this may be one of my favorite breads of all time. It's light and fluffy. It's got chewy little grain nugget-lets in the dough...and it's hearty and filling as heck-fire. I couldn't ask for a better deal when it comes to whole grain bread. I'm going to use some pretty gold stuff in my bread too.
Today I'm using this gorgeous 9 grain cereal mix. It looks like it should be priced by the ounce and sold in little pouches. Well, it is...kind of...
Honeyville Farms Nine Grain Mix has become a fast favorite in our home. It's not priced like gold, but it tastes amazing! 
Why? 
Well, this cracked cereal mix contains hard red wheat, soft white wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, millet, buckwheat and flax seeds.  All of the grains have been milled to a nice, course consistency, that is very similar to most commercially cracked wheat.  The texture is even and consistent.  This mix is a good source of fiber, protein and iron.  This cereal will store for 7-10 years sealed in the #10 can. However...it makes a magnificent breakfast cereal...or an even more beautiful bread. I'm totally hooked.  That being said, I'm gearing up to teach a whole grain bread class at the Honeyville Farms store in Chandler, Arizona this coming Saturday morning at 10 AM. One of the things I teach is how to make bread with a bucket instead of a mixer. It's a little odd to some, but it's a lot less expensive than buying a mixer...and it's a lot more practical for larger quantity bread making. I have a method to it though...and that's what we'll be covering here.
First you'll need my recipe. I give it out freely, but I also give it out with very specific directions. Don't change the directions and the recipe and tell me it "doesn't work". Follow what I say and do...and I think you will find joy in your bread. That being said, here's the recipe:

Chef Tess 9 grain Ciabatta Whole Grain Bread

Sponge:
1 1/2 cup high gluten whole wheat bread flour
1 1/4 cup water (no hotter than 95 degrees)
1T active dry yeast (.3 oz)

Dough: 
3 cups high gluten whole wheat flour
1 cup water
1T salt
2T olive oil
 To make the sponge: Combine the sponge ingredients until it is a batter-like consistency. It will be pretty loose.

In fact...I did a video so you could get a better idea of what I'm talking about.


After 4 hours, it will look very bubbly and gorgeous like this...


When you reach in the bucket you will find some very strong gluten strands developed. It's remarkable!


In with the gluten development, there will be soft pieces of whole grain. 


Add the water and mix up the sponge. Add the oil, salt, and 3 cups of flour. You will not need much more flour. I keep the dough very moist. Again, this helps you have a nice tender whole grain bread.


More of me talking and saying things that make sense...


After kneading...it will look like this...Oh wait. Watch the video...


Fold it over until the rounded part is up. 
It will look like this first...again, with all those gorgeous grains just hanging out all over like jewelry. Bling. Bling.


It won't touch the sides of the bucket.


After 1 1/2 to 2 hours, it reaches the edges and is very spongy. 


Now, get some whole wheat flour...


Spread a generous amount on a counter-top or table. Emergency situation, just lay your bucket on it's side and cover the inside with flour.


Lay out the dough in an 8 inch by 12 inch square, but DO NOT expel air. Now, that's totally opposite of any other bread I make so that might through you for a loop. Don't be thrown. Just follow what I say and you will be happy. Ahh. Trust is good. Trust Chef Tess...{mind control complete...}


Top the dough with a good sprinkle of flour.


 Take out a sharp serrated knife and slice the dough into 4 strips, long wise.


OH mercy...look at that grain! Are you happy yet? I'm getting so giddy!


Lightly oil 2 sheet pans and lay 2 loaves on each pan.


OH have mercy! Are you happy now?!


Allow to raise, uncovered for 1 hour. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.


When the loaf is fluffy enough to pass the edge of the pan...


Bake it! 20-25 minutes.   It will get all golden and awe inspiring.



We topped it with some gorgonzola lemon herb butter. It was totally wicked...you should eat it everyday.


Then, to make my hum-drum life complete...I topped out the day with Pesto. The heavenly green gloop of happiness.   He sounds like a magical elf who lives in the ceiling huh? Nope...He lives on my pasta.


Low carb be dang-tootin' banished to another side of the universe!


We are living it up!  Okay...and believe it or not, that's all whole grain, low glycemic index and low fat food...so my body is happy. I'm full...and I'm feeling great. Weight loss update...down 45 lbs. So...you know it's not just in my mind, right?! 

There you go. Make some Ciabatta! Want the printable?

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess


7 comments:

"Horno de Barrow" Tom said...

Stephanie,

I baked a double batch of this in my wood fired oven over the weekend, with a slight adjustment to the hydration because I'm baking in a WFO, and it is AWESOME!

Next time I think I'm going to have to do a triple batch (or even quadruple, which I think will probably all fit in my WFO) since it went over so well with the folks I gave loaves to.

Thanks,
Tom

Chef Tess said...

Thank you Tom! I'm so glad! Your Wood fired oven pictures have made me want to have one of my own! Oh...and your grain knowledge is outstanding! I know you build them and they are amazing!! So...at that, you also do contract work for those wanting to have them built. People can contact you here: hornodebarrow@hotmail.com correct?

"Horno de Barrow" Tom said...

Stephanie,

When I converted this to weight I got ~140g for a cup of whole wheat. I used Honeyville's whole wheat and I fluffed, spooned it into a measuring cup and leveled it with a dough scraper. I did this a half dozen times and took an average. When I look on the internet, however, I find that most sites state that a cup of whole wheat flour weighs 120G. That is fairly significant and would make a difference in the hydration of the dough. Do you have any comments or suggestions as to which would be more accurate to reproduce the same result as you achieve?

Thanks,
Tom

Chef Tess said...

It is really going to vary on the mill of the flour. How fine are you going? In using the Organic whole wheat from Honeyville, I'm getting 120-125 g per cup on average to get the results I like, so we're close. Wheat Montana Pairie Gold is at 132 g per cup but I fine mill it. It is slightly higher but milled really fine. I'm still able to get a very similar bread with either mill so I'd say go with around 130g per cup . 195 g in the sponge and 390 in the dough. From now on I will be including weight measurements whenever possible. I've tended to lean toward just giving the cup measurements for the home bakers just starting out without scales. Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Printer friendly recipes would be a big bonus. Will try your recipe and let you know how it goes.

Chef Tess said...

Sorry it took so long sweetie. I just posted the link to the printable. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

The printable version link ... isn't there. Was it removed? Would love to print out the recipe. Thanks!