Two biga loaves at a household get together

The request was for 2 loaves of bread for a household get together of about 30. The bread could be served with pumpkin soup and alongside some tomato-based vegetarian mains.

I believed I’d make two moderately contrasting loaves however each 50% complete grain 50% white bread flour. One seeded loaf with khorasan and wholewheat, and the opposite with spelt and rye, blended with a tablespoon of malt and a few walnuts (ran out of cranberries).

The problem this time was the scheduling. The get together was at 4 pm and I must bake them at 8 am at residence, earlier than leaving for the get together. This meant that chilly retard within the fridge in a single day was in all probability the way in which to go – one thing I attempt to keep away from when baking for events because of the odd overproofed loaf within the fridge on occasion. As well as I had little or no time within the days main as much as correctly schedule levain rising time, mixing time, stretch/folding time and so on, so I made a decision to go the biga-way for optimum flavour and adaptability.

You’ll slowly notice I am beginning to develop into a biga-advert. These loaves had been glorious! 

I made each 46% hydration “apple-crumble” bigas with 10% SD in 5 minutes arriving residence late on Friday at 10 pm. Chucked them within the chilly hall the place it is often 16 levels or so. The subsequent day, I solely had a window of two hours between 5 and seven pm. I took the bigas in, hydrated them with the remaining water of the loaves to get to 76% hydration, and blended within the 50% bread flour and 1.2% salt for every loaf. Every amounted to about 1 kg. The blending itself took 20 minutes in complete. Gave it two SFs earlier than leaving the home at 7 and left it to rise on the counter (20 levels). Received residence at 11 pm to 50% risen loaves. Shortly formed and integrated walnuts/coated with seeds, and left to rise in bannetons within the fridge.

Baked the subsequent morning with no proofing mishap, 220 levels for 40 minutes. Loaves rose very effectively within the oven. 

 Comparability of crumb:

 Each crumbs had been in all probability essentially the most open I’ve had for 50% complete grain. Curiously, there was nonetheless actually good chunk – elastic, spring – which differentiates these biga loaves from the long-fermented straight starter loaves in earlier experiments. 

The khorasan-wholewheat loaf was completed earlier than the mains had been served. Individuals actually cherished the seeds (pine, pumpkin, sunflower, poppy).

The rye-spelt had a spherical, mellow character and went very effectively with the walnuts. I noticed a party-goer nonetheless munching on this bread with out something on it when it was already time for dessert. That made me fairly joyful. On the finish of the get together my sister-in-law requested if she might convey the remaining slices residence for breakfast and that once more made me even happier. 

General, I am actually happy with the brand new biga approach. I feel it produces spectacular flavour for the quantity of comfort and adaptability it provides me, coupled with the type of crumb, flavour, stability of sourness, and chunk I actually like with subsequent to no kneading. It is a wonderful approach for folks baking with out a mixer and with considerably erratic schedules. It has been a heavy few days – simply gave a small piano efficiency of a Beethoven symphony with 2 weeks discover, and now a celebration carried out (additionally produced 3 spinach pies for it!) – so it could be good to have quieter days and mess around with the biga approach in earnest.