Bread and soup, soup and bread…that’s dinner around here on winter nights. Everybody wants a hot meal but nobody wants to bother about it too much. Husband might be relaxing with a book – the Little One giggling on the phone with a friend – and I peering earnestly into the screen, too wound up with some project to start banging pots and pans around in the kitchen. What will we eat? Well, bread and soup.
Which I’d cooked earlier, when energy was running higher and there seemed to be more time. I set a plate with two kinds of cheese next to the bread, and call the hungry ones to the table.
Do I understand correctly that this bread doesn’t need much in the way of kneading?
You’re right. The main kneading is done in the second stage, when the 3 cups of flour are added to the sponge.
And thank you for pointing out the vagueness – I’m going to sharpen the directions up now.
Your breads are always so pretty! I have done pizza dough wiithout much kneading and it has been far better than the regular one.
Yael,
Stretching and folding does result in a lighter dough because most of the CO2 bubbles stay in the dough instead of getting squashed out by kneading. There’s plenty of room for both ways of incorporating flour and developing gluten, depending on the bread you want…rye bread for example is dense, no bubbles. But yes, I can see how pizza dough would be better light and crisp. At least, that’s how I like it!
Hi Mimi,
I just discovered your blog and am very excited about being in contact with other Israeli food bloggers. I’m enjoying reading your posts and looking forward to more. Thanks!
MMMMMMMMM,…your bread look so lovely!! I so love that you added cornmeal for extra colour & a bit of a crunch,..
Great idea!!
MMMMMMMMMMM,…a slice with lavender honey I would totally like to savour it right now!
Oh this sounds like a wonderful winter meal.
Does it get cold in Israel?
Melissa
Winter nights and early mornings are cold anywhere in Israel; the north and hilly regions are cold all day. Right now we’re having a winter that’s too mild – more rain would be great.