Panis Quadratus: Ancient Bread of Pompeii

Step 1

Briefly toast the nigella and sesame seeds on a dry frying pan until the latter are a light gold color.

Step 2

Combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, seeds) in a bowl and whisk together.

Step 3

Combine the wet ingredients (water, sourdough starter, honey) in another bowl and whisk until frothy and dissolved.

Step 4

Mix together the wet and dry ingredients, lightly kneading or running a stand mixer for about 5 minutes. Different wheat varieties will have different absorbency, so check out the photo gallery below for a sense of the target dough consistency, and add more flour or water if needed.

Step 5

Cover and let the dough rest for about 30 minutes. Then perform a round of stretching and folding on the dough. After another 30-minute rest, do a second round of stretching and folding.

Step 6

Let the dough rise until it has expanded by about 75%. This took 4.5 hours from when I mixed the dough (warm kitchen).

Step 7

Prep and set aside a square sheet of parchment paper that is about 15"x15". Your dough should only spread to about 9-10 inches in diameter by the time you've segmented it, but the extra parchment edges will give you something to grab when you transfer the dough to your baking vessel or stone.

Step 8

Scrape the dough out onto a well-floured countertop and shape it into a ball, scooting it with a bench knife or the palms of your hands to develop tension on the dough's surface.

Step 9

Place the dough ball on the center of your parchment paper, lightly dust it with flour, and cover it with a damp cloth for the final proof. My dough proofed for 2 hours in a warm kitchen.

Step 10

Preheat your oven and baking vessel or stone to 450F during the last thirty minutes of the final proof. If you're using a regular baking sheet, preheat to only 400F and plan to bake the bread for about 45 minutes.

Step 11

Uncover your dough and tie cooking string around its "waist." Don't make the string droopy loose, but don't tighten it either.

Step 12

Now flour the top of your dough and make 8 depressions like you're creating pie wedges with a chopstick or similar tool. Make sure to press down almost to the countertop. If the chopstick pulls the dough back up when you remove it, flour it and the dough again.

Step 13

Finally make a hole in the center of the dough that is at least 1" wide.

Step 14

Transfer the parchment and dough to your hot baking vessel, cover, and put it in the oven.

Step 15

Bake at 450F for 25 minutes covered and about 15 minutes uncovered.

Step 16

After the bread has cooled, you can store it in your baking vessel to keep it soft and chewy.