19 Italian Bread Recipe Made With Biga They're Simply Irresistible!
Published on: Mar 17, 2024
Italian bread is a staple in many households, known for its crusty exterior and soft, chewy interior. While there are many variations of Italian bread, one popular method is making it with a biga. This pre-ferment, made from flour, water, and yeast, adds depth of flavor and texture to the final loaf. In this article, we'll dive into the process of making Italian bread with a biga and explore why this technique is essential for achieving the perfect loaf.
Nothing complements a beer can chicken quite like a warm, crusty loaf of Italian bread. The perfect combination of chewy and crusty, this bread is the perfect vehicle for sopping up all the delicious juices from your chicken. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to make at home. All you need is some flour, yeast, salt, and water. Add in some fresh herbs or garlic for an extra kick of flavor.
For a more portable option, try using Italian hoagie rolls for your beer can chicken. These long, crusty rolls are perfect for making sandwiches with your leftover chicken. Fill them up with sliced tomatoes, arugula, and provolone cheese for a delicious Italian-inspired sandwich. You can also use them to make mini chicken sliders for a fun party appetizer.
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Pugliese Bread – An Italian Rustic Loaf
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Instant Yeast, Water, Flour, Salt, Mashed
If you want to impress your guests with a beautiful homemade loaf of bread, try making a Pugliese bread. This Italian rustic loaf is characterized by its chewy crust and soft, holey interior. It's perfect for tearing apart and dipping into the juices from your beer can chicken. Plus, it's a great way to show off your baking skills to your friends and family.
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Panmarino (Italian Rosemary Bread)
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Biga, Lukewarm
Rosemary is a classic herb in Italian cooking, and it pairs perfectly with chicken. This Panmarino bread is loaded with fresh rosemary and sea salt, giving it a fragrant and savory flavor. Use it to make croutons for a Caesar salad or to make a delicious panzanella with your leftover beer can chicken.
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Panmario (Italian rosemary bread)
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Whole Wheat Flour
Similar to Panmarino, Panmario is another Italian rosemary bread that is perfect for serving alongside your beer can chicken. The addition of olive oil in this recipe gives the bread a rich, moist texture. And the savory combination of rosemary, garlic, and sea salt makes it a crowd-pleasing side dish.
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Pugliese Bread - An Italian Rustic Loaf
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Instant Yeast, Water, Flour, Salt, Mashed
If you're short on time, you can still enjoy homemade bread with these chewy Italian rolls. They only require 30 minutes of rising time and are ready to eat in under an hour. These rolls are perfect for making mini chicken sandwiches or for serving with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.
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Chewy Italian Rolls
Main Ingredients: Unbleached All Purpose Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Water
Focaccia is a flat, oven-baked bread that is popular in Italian cuisine. This version, Focaccia Alla Genovese, is a classic recipe from Genoa. It's topped with sliced onions and olives and is perfect for serving alongside your beer can chicken. You can also use it to make a delicious Italian-style pizza with your leftover chicken.
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Focaccia Alla Genovese
Main Ingredients: Warm Water, Active Dry Yeast, Bread Flour, Salt, Cold
Ciabatta is a popular Italian bread known for its wide, flat shape and airy, holey interior. This bread is perfect for tearing apart and dunking into the juices from your beer can chicken. You can also use it to make a chicken panini or to make homemade garlic bread to serve alongside your meal.
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Ciabatta
Main Ingredients: Active Dry Yeast, Milk, Water, Olive Oil, Biga, Flour
If you want to take your bread-making skills to the next level, try making homemade ciabatta from scratch. This recipe requires poolish, a pre-ferment starter, which gives the bread its characteristic flavor and texture. It may take some extra time and effort, but the end result is worth it.
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Homemade Ciabatta
Main Ingredients: Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour, Biga
If you're looking for a unique and festive way to serve your beer can chicken, try making a Pandoro Italian Christmas cake. This traditional Italian sweet bread is typically served during the holiday season, but it makes a delicious accompaniment to any meal. It's a light and airy bread with a buttery flavor that pairs well with chicken.
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Pandoro Italian Christmas Cake
Main Ingredients: Lukewarm Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour
Sourdough bread has a tangy, slightly sour flavor that pairs well with the rich flavors of beer can chicken. These sourdough Italian rolls are perfect for making mini chicken sliders or for serving alongside a big bowl of soup. You can also use them to make panzanella or to dip into your favorite Italian dips.
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Sourdough Italian Rolls
Main Ingredients: Sourdough Starter, Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Salt
For a unique twist on traditional Italian bread, try this potato rosemary bread. Mashed potatoes are added to the dough, giving the bread a soft, tender texture. And the addition of fresh rosemary adds a fragrant and savory note to the bread. This bread is perfect for making chicken sandwiches or for serving alongside your beer can chicken.
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Potato Rosemary Bread
Main Ingredients: Biga, Gluten Flour, Salt, Black Pepper, Instant Yeast
If you're looking for a healthier bread option, try making this power bread. It's loaded with healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour, oats, and seeds. Plus, it's a great way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. Use it to make chicken salad sandwiches or to serve alongside a big green salad.
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Power Bread
Main Ingredients: Raisins, Flaxseeds, Water, White Whole Wheat Flour
This whole wheat pita bread recipe is courtesy of Jim Lahey, the famous baker behind the no-knead bread phenomenon. These pita breads are soft, fluffy, and perfect for making chicken gyros with your beer can chicken. They're also great for dipping into hummus or baba ghanoush.
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Whole Wheat Pita Bread | Jim Lahey
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Room Temperature Water, Biga, Sugar, Flour
For a basic, no-fuss version of ciabatta bread, try this homemade recipe. It requires just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort. The result is a chewy and flavorful bread that is perfect for serving alongside your beer can chicken. You can also use it to make bruschetta or crostini for a tasty appetizer.
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Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Main Ingredients: Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour, Biga, All
Who says bread always has to be savory? This chocolate chunk artisan bread is a sweet treat that is perfect for serving as a dessert alongside your beer can chicken. It's loaded with chunks of dark chocolate and has a crusty exterior and a soft, gooey interior. Just be sure to save some room for dessert!
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Chocolate Chunk Artisan Bread
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Warm Water, Dried Yeast, Kosher
This whole wheat country hearth bread is a hearty and rustic option to serve with your beer can chicken. The addition of molasses gives the bread a slightly sweet flavor, and the whole wheat flour adds a nutty taste. This bread is perfect for making toasted sandwiches or for serving alongside a hearty stew.
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Whole Wheat Country Hearth Bread
Main Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Salt, Water, Bread Flour, Instant
If you're looking for a simple and versatile bread to serve with your beer can chicken, try this whole wheat sandwich bread. It's soft, moist, and perfect for making chicken salad sandwiches or for using as a base for bruschetta. You can also use it to make French toast for a delicious breakfast the next day.
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Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
Main Ingredients: Flour, Water, Yeast, Whole Wheat Flour, Wheat Germ
Similar to the previous recipe, this whole-wheat sandwich bread is another great option for serving with your beer can chicken. It's made with a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, giving it a nutty and slightly sweet flavor. This bread is perfect for making grilled cheese sandwiches or for serving alongside a big bowl of chicken noodle soup.
Creating the Biga
Gather Your Ingredients
Before making the biga, it's important to have all your ingredients ready. You'll need bread flour, water, and a small amount of yeast. It's best to use a scale to measure your ingredients accurately, as any variations can affect the final result.
Mix and Rest
Start by combining the flour and water in a large bowl, then add in the yeast. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then let it rest for at least 8 hours or overnight. This rest period allows the yeast to develop and ferment, creating a more complex flavor in the biga.
Making the Bread Dough
Incorporating the Biga
Once the biga has rested, it's time to make the bread dough. In a separate bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and water. Then, add in the biga, breaking it up into small pieces as you mix it in. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, then let it rest for another 30 minutes.
The Second Rise
After the first rise, shape the dough into a round or oval shape and place it in a proofing basket. Let it rise for an additional 45 minutes to an hour. This second rise allows the dough to develop more flavor and structure.
Baking the Bread
Preheat and Slash
Before baking the bread, preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and place a baking stone or sheet pan in the oven to heat up. Once the oven is preheated, carefully transfer the bread onto the baking surface and slash the top with a sharp knife or razor blade. This slashing allows the bread to expand and gives it a beautiful, rustic appearance.
Bake and Enjoy!
Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let it cool before slicing into it and enjoying the delicious, homemade Italian bread. The biga gives this bread a complex flavor and a perfectly crispy crust that will have you coming back for more.
Incorporating a biga into your Italian bread recipe is a game-changer. It adds depth of flavor, improves the texture, and creates a beautifully rustic loaf. So next time you're craving homemade bread, give this method a try and taste the difference for yourself.
