Classic French Boule

Step 1

Day Before: In large container (with non-airtight lid), whisk together warm water, yeast, and salt. Slowly add in flours, mixing with wooden spoon. When dough becomes too difficult and thick to stir, mix together with hands until all the flour comes together and dough is uniform. The dough should be very wet and sticky. Do not knead. Cover lightly and allow to rise at room temperature for at least two hours. Place in refrigerator and cover lightly for up to two weeks.

Step 2

Before Baking: Dust pizza peel lightly with corn meal, remove about half of the dough and “cloak” and shape loaf in a round in about 30-60 seconds—stretch the surface of the dough ball around to the bottom of the loaf, rotating the dough ball as you go, so that it is relatively smooth on the surface. The bottom will flatten out during baking. Allow to rest at room temperature for 45 minutes. **Note: If you do not have a pizza peel, place on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  If using pizza stone, allow to preheat for at least twenty minutes.

Step 4

Once oven is ready, dust loaf with floor and using serrated knife, slash a scallop (seen below) or tic-tac-toe pattern about 1/2” deep on top of the loaf.

Step 5

Place baking tray in oven or slide loaf onto pizza stone and bake for 35-50 minutes, or until internal temperature (taken from side of loaf) reads between 190-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if the loaf appears cooked from the outside, the easiest way to tell if it is fully cooked is using a digital instant-read thermometer. **Note: Steam allows bread to develop a crusty, crisp exterior. One way to incorporate steam into your oven at home is to place a broiler tray on an oven rack and fill it with very hot water immediately after placing the loaf in the oven. Close the oven door immediately.

Step 6

Allow baked loaf to rest on rack until it comes to room temperature or for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing.