Bake: Vietnamese Baguette
Preparation time: 1 hour 30 mins
Proofing time: 1 hour 30 mins
Baking time: 16 mins
Total time: 3 hours 16 mins
Servings: 2 loaves
Ingredients:
1-3/4 cup bread flour
1-1/8 tsp of instant dry yeast
3/4 cup of warm (105-115°F) water
1/2 tbsp of sugar
1/4 tsp of salt
Step 1: Bread Dough
In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, salt, sugar, and instant dry yeast. Then slowly add warm water to the dry ingredients. Mix until dough is formed. Cover and let the dough rest for 10 mins.
Step 2: Knead the Dough
Transfer dough to your working surface and knead until soft, smooth and elastic (about 10-15 mins by hand). Cover and let it rest for 5-10 mins.
Continue to knead until dough is very smooth and elastic (about 5-10 mins). Dough should be not too dry and/or too sticky.
Step 3: Proofing (Part 1)
Apply a thin layer of oil inside the bowl, transfer dough back into the bowl and cover. Allow dough to proof for 50-60 mins or until it doubles in size.
Step 4: Forming
Boil water. Turn on the oven at WARM setting for about 2 mins to achieve temperature at 90–100°F. Turn off oven. Put a bowl of boiling water into the oven.
Lightly flour your working surface and transfer dough over. Divide dough in half and flatten it out with your hand. With a rolling pin, roll out dough into a long oval shape. Fold and roll one end of oval shape rolling it into a long football shape. Pinch the ends. Place it onto a greased baking tray, leave some room for expansion. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
Step 5: Proofing (Part 2)
Place baking tray with dough into the oven. Let it rest and rise for about 30 mins or until it double in size.
Remove baking tray with dough and cover with a cloth (careful not to touch the dough, otherwise it will deflate). Leave the bowl of water inside. Preheating oven to 475°F.
Step 6: Bake*
Bake at 475°F for 8 mins. Open oven door, rotate baking tray (to bake evenly), remove bowl of water.
Bake at 400°F for 6 mins. Without opening the oven door, turn oven down to 350°F and bake for another 2 mins.
Step 7: Let It Cool and Enjoy!
Remove from oven and let cool for 15 mins. Enjoy the thin outer crust and super soft and chewy inside!
*Note: depending on oven, baking time may vary. Trial and error is the best way to achieve desired results!