French Baguette

Baguette has a crisp crust and longish shape. It is one of the most consumed breads in France. This attractive bread is used to make a number of snacks and starters.

Here are a few common starters and snacks that are made using baguette:

• Veg Club Sandwich
• Cherry Tomato and Avocado Crostini
• Classic Garlic Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread
• Paneer Tikka Sandwich
• Cherry Tomato and Ricotta Sandwich
• Paneer and Tomato Open Toast.
• Mini Pizzas with Mini Pepperoni
• Dill, Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon Baguettes
• Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
• Cranberry Brie

It doesn’t matter if you’re baking or buying Baguette, you need to know the basic baguette essentials.

Good Baguette Vs. Bad Baguette

Here are five things to look for that differentiates a good baguette from a bad one.

#1. Crispy Crust

Begin by holding the baguette close to your ear. Slightly squeeze the crust and listen to the sound. Does it create a symphony of crackle or a shattering sound?

Add to your shopping cart only if it “sings like a bird.”

#2. Colour Code

Your baguette’s colour says a lot about its quality. If it’s brown and yellow, it means it has the required caramelization.

#3. What’s Inside?

Cut the baguette and notice the colours. A perfect baguette will have a rich cream colour whereas a poorly made baguette will have a white colour.

#4. Holy Holes

Pay attention to the number and size of holes on your loaf. Big and small holes all over the bread are evidence that the dough rose or has proofed properly.

#5. Smell

What does your baguette smell like? The best way to do this is to put it in front of your nose and push it to see if you can smell 100 different flavours.

Making Baguette at Home

Don’t let the recipe scare you, it looks complicated but is not. We assure you that if you follow our instructions properly, you’ll have a beautiful and irresistible baguette in no time!

At step 10, remember to make light incisions. Devour the baguette right away or store it in an air-tight container for up to 2 days.

Serves: 2 Preparation time: 4 hours Baking time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

A pinch of salt

½ tsp sugar

1 ½ tsp instant dry yeast

2 ¼ cups of plain flour and some more (for rolling).

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine together 2 tablespoons of warm water with yeast. Cover and keep aside for 15 minutes.
2. Mix the yeast mixture with salt and plain flour. Use warm water to knead into a sticky loose dough.
3. Transfer this dough to a deep greased bowl. Cover using a damp muslin cloth. Keep the bowl in a warm place for 40-45 minutes.
4. Use plain flour to lightly dust your fingers. Loosen the dough by scraping the sides of the bowl. Pull and fold the dough 6-8 times before covering with the damp muslin cloth. Keep the bowl in the warm place for at least 2 hours.
5. Lightly dust your surface using plain flour. Pull and fold the dough 4-6 times but don’t knead it.
6. Use a sharp knife to equally divide the dough into 2 portions. Keep one dough portion aside.
7. Pat the dough to form a rectangle before rolling it to make a 12” (300 mm) cylindrical roll. Pinch the sides and edges all over to seal tightly.
8. Repeat step number 7 and 8 with the remaining dough.
9. Place both the rolls on a dusted baking tray. Cover them with the damp muslin cloth. Let them rest for an hour.
10. Remove the cloth. Use s sharp knife to make 2-3 light incisions. Fill an aluminium bowl with water and keep it in the lower shelf of the oven.
11. Bake the bread rolls for 25-30 minutes on 250C. Brush a little water on both the rolls after every interval of 10 minutes.
12. Remove once the bread rolls become crisp and golden brown in colour. Cool completely before serving or storing them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you make baguettes from scratch?

Follow our easy recipe to have freshly baked, fabulous baguettes. All you need are a handful of ingredients to get started.

How do you make a baguette?

Shaping and baking baguettes are easy if you follow our step-by-step instructions.

How do you get the perfect crust on a baguette?

The secret to getting the perfect crust is to place a small bowl of water below the baguettes while they’re baking. Alternatively, you can also preheat the oven after placing the bowl of water at the bottom of your oven. Allow the steam to fill the oven before placing the baguettes to get that beautiful crust.

Feel free to make this baguette when discussing about the Top 10 Salesforce Consulting Companies. In fact, you can also take it on a Long Flight or when you're going Kayaking in India!