19 Italian Country Bread With Biga Recipe Unleash Your Inner Chef!
Published on: Mar 15, 2024
If you're a fan of rustic, hearty bread with a crisp crust and soft, chewy interior, then Italian country bread with biga is the recipe for you. This traditional bread, also known as "pane casereccio," is a staple in Italian households and is perfect for dipping into olive oil, soups, or using as the base for a delicious sandwich. The key to achieving the perfect texture and flavor is using a biga, a pre-ferment made from flour, water, and yeast. Let's dive into the details of this classic Italian bread recipe and learn how to make it at home.
Italian bread is known for its crusty exterior and soft, chewy interior. It's the perfect bread for making sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or serving alongside a hearty bowl of pasta. To make your own Italian bread, all you need is a few simple ingredients and a little bit of patience. This recipe yields two loaves, so you can enjoy one now and freeze the other for later.
If you're a fan of hoagies, then you'll love these homemade Italian hoagie rolls. They have a light and airy texture, making them perfect for filling with your favorite meats, cheeses, and veggies. The secret to achieving that classic hoagie roll shape is to roll the dough into a long, thin log before baking. You can also sprinkle some Italian seasoning on top for an extra burst of flavor.
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Whole Wheat Country Hearth Bread
Main Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Salt, Water, Bread Flour, Instant
This hearty whole wheat bread is perfect for those looking for a healthier option. It's made with a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, giving it a hearty texture and nutty flavor. The dough is also enriched with honey and olive oil, making it soft and flavorful. Serve it warm with a spread of butter for a delicious and wholesome treat.
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Pugliese Bread – An Italian Rustic Loaf
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Instant Yeast, Water, Flour, Salt, Mashed
Pugliese bread is a traditional Italian bread that originated in the region of Puglia. It's a rustic loaf with a thick crust and a dense, chewy interior. This bread is perfect for soaking up sauces and soups or enjoying with a slice of aged cheese. It's made with a combination of all-purpose and semolina flour, giving it a unique texture and flavor.
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Panmarino (Italian Rosemary Bread)
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Biga, Lukewarm
Panmarino is a fragrant and flavorful Italian bread that is perfect for serving alongside a hearty meal. It's infused with fresh rosemary and garlic, giving it a savory and aromatic taste. This bread is great for making sandwiches or toasting and topping with your favorite spreads. It's also a great bread to serve at a dinner party to impress your guests.
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Panmario (Italian rosemary bread)
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Whole Wheat Flour
Panmario is a variation of Panmarino, but instead of using fresh rosemary, it uses dried rosemary. This bread is perfect for those who don't have access to fresh herbs but still want the flavorful taste of rosemary in their bread. It's also a great bread to make for a picnic or potluck, as it's easy to transport and pairs well with a variety of dishes.
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Pugliese Bread - An Italian Rustic Loaf
Main Ingredients: Bread Flour, Instant Yeast, Water, Flour, Salt, Mashed
This recipe for Pugliese bread is a bit different from the previous one. It uses a starter, also known as a "biga," to give the bread a more complex flavor and texture. It requires a longer fermentation time, but the end result is worth it. The crust is crisp, and the interior is soft and chewy, making it perfect for sandwiches or enjoying on its own.
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Chewy Italian Rolls
Main Ingredients: Unbleached All Purpose Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Water
These chewy Italian rolls are perfect for making mini sandwiches or serving alongside a bowl of soup. They're soft, slightly chewy, and have a slightly sweet taste, thanks to the addition of honey. These rolls are also great for making ahead and freezing, so you can have fresh bread anytime you want without the hassle of making it from scratch.
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Focaccia Alla Genovese
Main Ingredients: Warm Water, Active Dry Yeast, Bread Flour, Salt, Cold
Focaccia is a classic Italian bread that is perfect for serving as an appetizer or alongside a salad. It's a flatbread that is topped with olive oil, herbs, and other toppings, such as olives, onions, or cheese. This recipe for Focaccia Alla Genovese uses a combination of olive oil and butter, giving it a rich and buttery flavor. It's also a great bread for beginner bakers to try.
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Ciabatta
Main Ingredients: Active Dry Yeast, Milk, Water, Olive Oil, Biga, Flour
Ciabatta is a popular Italian bread that is known for its unique shape and texture. It has a thin, crispy crust and an airy, chewy interior, making it perfect for sandwiches or enjoying with a bowl of soup. This recipe requires a bit of time and patience, as the dough needs to be folded and stretched several times to achieve that classic ciabatta shape.
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Homemade Ciabatta
Main Ingredients: Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour, Biga
If you've never made ciabatta before, this recipe is a great place to start. It uses a combination of all-purpose and bread flour, giving it a soft and chewy texture. It's also important to use a baking stone or place a cast-iron skillet in the oven while preheating to create steam, which will help achieve that crispy crust. Serve this bread warm with your favorite toppings for a delicious meal or snack.
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Pandoro Italian Christmas Cake
Main Ingredients: Lukewarm Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour
Pandoro is a traditional Italian Christmas cake that is shaped like a star. It's a sweet and buttery bread that is perfect for serving as a dessert or alongside a cup of coffee. This recipe uses a combination of butter and olive oil, giving it a rich and moist texture. It's also important to let the dough rise for at least 24 hours to achieve the best flavor and texture.
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Sourdough Italian Rolls
Main Ingredients: Sourdough Starter, Flour, Water, Instant Yeast, Salt
If you're a fan of sourdough bread, then you'll love these sourdough Italian rolls. They have a tangy and complex flavor that pairs well with a variety of toppings. The dough is also enriched with olive oil, giving it a softer and more flavorful texture. These rolls are great for making sandwiches or serving alongside a bowl of soup.
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Potato Rosemary Bread
Main Ingredients: Biga, Gluten Flour, Salt, Black Pepper, Instant Yeast
This potato rosemary bread is a unique and delicious twist on traditional Italian bread. The addition of mashed potatoes in the dough gives it a soft and moist texture, while the fresh rosemary adds a savory and aromatic taste. This bread is perfect for making homemade croutons or enjoying with a hearty stew.
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Power Bread
Main Ingredients: Raisins, Flaxseeds, Water, White Whole Wheat Flour
Power bread is a hearty and nutritious bread that is packed with whole grains, seeds, and nuts. It's perfect for those looking for a healthier bread option or for those with dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegan. This bread is also great for making sandwiches or toasting and topping with your favorite spreads.
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Whole Wheat Pita Bread | Jim Lahey
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Room Temperature Water, Biga, Sugar, Flour
Jim Lahey is a renowned baker known for his no-knead bread method. This recipe for whole wheat pita bread is easy to follow and yields soft and fluffy pita bread. The dough is made with a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, giving it a wholesome and nutty taste. These pita breads are great for filling with your favorite meats, veggies, or dips.
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Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Main Ingredients: Water, Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour, Biga, All
This recipe for homemade ciabatta bread is perfect for those who love to bake bread but don't have a lot of time. It only requires a few simple ingredients and minimal hands-on time. The dough is also very forgiving, so even beginner bakers can achieve great results. Enjoy this bread warm with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt for a simple and tasty treat.
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Chocolate Chunk Artisan Bread
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Warm Water, Dried Yeast, Kosher
This chocolate chunk artisan bread is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. It's a soft and fluffy bread filled with chunks of dark chocolate, giving it a rich and indulgent taste. This bread is great for serving as a dessert or alongside a cup of hot cocoa. It's also a great bread to make for special occasions or as a gift for friends and family.
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Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
Main Ingredients: Flour, Water, Yeast, Whole Wheat Flour, Wheat Germ
This whole wheat sandwich bread is soft and fluffy, making it perfect for making sandwiches or toasting and topping with your favorite spreads. It's made with a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, giving it a hearty and nutty flavor. This bread is also great for making ahead and freezing, so you can have fresh bread whenever you want.
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Whole-wheat Sandwich Bread
Main Ingredients: Biga, Bread Flour, Warm Water, Instant Yeast, Whole
This recipe for whole-wheat sandwich bread is perfect for those looking for a healthier bread option. It's made with 100% whole wheat flour, giving it a rich and nutty flavor. The dough is also enriched with honey and olive oil, making it soft and flavorful. This bread is perfect for making sandwiches or serving alongside a bowl of soup.
The Importance of Biga
What is Biga?
Biga is a pre-ferment used in Italian bread making that adds depth of flavor and texture to the final product. It is made from a small amount of flour, water, and yeast, which is mixed together and left to ferment for 12-24 hours. This process allows the yeast to develop and create a complex flavor in the bread. Biga is often used in traditional Italian bread recipes, such as ciabatta and focaccia, and is essential in making authentic Italian country bread.
Why Use Biga?
Using biga in bread making has a few key benefits. Firstly, it adds a more complex flavor to the bread, making it more interesting and satisfying to eat. The long fermentation process also breaks down the gluten in the flour, resulting in a softer and more chewy texture. This is what gives Italian country bread its iconic crusty exterior and soft, airy inside. Additionally, biga allows for a longer shelf life for the bread, making it a practical choice for those looking to have freshly baked bread throughout the week.
The Recipe
Ingredients
- 500g bread flour
- 300g water
- 5g active dry yeast
- 10g salt
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, water, and yeast to create the biga. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
2. Once the biga is ready, mix it with the remaining flour, water, and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
3. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise for 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
4. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and place a baking stone or sheet in the oven to heat up.
5. Punch down the dough and shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place it on a piece of parchment paper and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
6. When the oven is ready, score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and transfer it to the hot baking stone or sheet.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
8. Let the bread cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy Your Homemade Italian Country Bread
Making Italian country bread with biga may take a little extra time and effort, but the end result is well worth it. With its crispy crust, soft interior, and complex flavor, this bread is sure to become a favorite in your household. So next time you're looking for a delicious and authentic bread recipe, give this one a try and impress your family and friends with your baking skills. Buon appetito!
