French Bread With Kalamata Olives And Thyme

Serves: 2

Carole Volkman

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

51

Sweetness

54

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Whole Milk

2 tsps

Butter

2 tsps

Sugar

2 tsps

Salt

Directions:

1

Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan

2

Add butter and sugar; stir until butter melts

3

Pour mixture into large bowl

4

Add 1 cup room-temperature water and cool mixture until lukewarm (85°F to 95°F), about 10 minutes

5

Add yeast; stir to blend

6

Stir in olives, thyme and salt

7

Add 1 cup flour

8

Using wood spoon, stir until flour is incorporated

9

Add 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously with wood spoon until incorporated after each addition

10

If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from sides of bowl

11

Oil large bowl

12

Transfer dough to bowl; turn to coat with oil

13

Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap

14

For do-ahead version: Chill dough overnight

15

For same-day version: Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes (do not punch down dough)

16

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 500°F

17

Oil large baking sheet

18

Turn dough out onto floured work surface (to avoid deflating, do not punch down dough and do not knead dough)

19

Divide dough into 2 equal pieces

20

Gently form (do not knead) each piece into baguette 15 inches long by 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide (dough will not be smooth)

21

Transfer baguettes to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart

22

Cover loosely with plastic wrap

23

Let rise in warm draft-free area until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes for refrigerated dough and 15 minutes for room-temperature dough

24

Brush top of each loaf lightly with egg white

25

Generously spray inside of oven with water (about 8 sprays); immediately place loaves in oven

26

Bake 10 minutes

27

Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and continue to bake until loaves are deep golden and sound hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes

28

Cool on rack

29

Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan

30

Add butter and sugar; stir until butter melts

31

Pour mixture into large bowl

32

Add 1 cup room-temperature water and cool mixture until lukewarm (85°F to 95°F), about 10 minutes

33

Add yeast; stir to blend

34

Stir in olives, thyme and salt

35

Add 1 cup flour

36

Using wood spoon, stir until flour is incorporated

37

Add 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously with wood spoon until incorporated after each addition

38

If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from sides of bowl

39

Oil large bowl

40

Transfer dough to bowl; turn to coat with oil

41

Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap

42

For do-ahead version: Chill dough overnight

43

For same-day version: Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes (do not punch down dough)

44

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 500°F

45

Oil large baking sheet

46

Turn dough out onto floured work surface (to avoid deflating, do not punch down dough and do not knead dough)

47

Divide dough into 2 equal pieces

48

Gently form (do not knead) each piece into baguette 15 inches long by 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide (dough will not be smooth)

49

Transfer baguettes to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart

50

Cover loosely with plastic wrap

51

Let rise in warm draft-free area until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes for refrigerated dough and 15 minutes for room-temperature dough

52

Brush top of each loaf lightly with egg white

53

Generously spray inside of oven with water (about 8 sprays); immediately place loaves in oven

54

Bake 10 minutes

55

Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and continue to bake until loaves are deep golden and sound hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes

56

Cool on rack