-
1
You will need a 1-quart bowl, a 2-quart or large bowl, a baking stone, a baking peel or rimless cookie sheet, spray bottle for water, and a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
-
2
First make the sponge:
-
3
Combine starter, 1/2 cup bottled water.
-
4
Stir in 1 cup flour until combined, mixture should resemble thick pancake batter.
-
5
Cover container with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours.
-
6
Make the Dough:
-
7
Use a mixer with dough hook (I used my bread machine on dough cycle).
-
8
Pour 1 1/2 cups water in large bowl.
-
9
Add 'sponge' to water.
-
10
With mixer running on low, add flour, 1/2 cup at a time.
-
11
Once all flour (4- 4 3/4 cups) has been added, continue kneading until forms a ball, about 1 minute longer. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest 20 minutes.
-
12
Using fingers, create a pocket in rested dough; add salt to pocket. Knead dough until forms a firm ball. about 6 minutes. (If using mixer, knead at low speed, until dough is soft, smooth and moist, should not be sticky, about 5 minutes. Transfer dough to clean work surface and knead by hand until dough forms firm ball, about 1 additional minute).
-
13
Lightly spray bowl with non-stick cooking spray; place dough in container and lightly spray surface of dough. Set in draft-free area (room temperature) and let stand until doubles in bulk 3 to 5 hours.
-
14
Once doubled in bulk, remove the dough to clean work surface.
-
15
Stretch the dough (to redistribute and refresh yeast) as far as possible without tearing, then fold into thirds like a letter.
-
16
Divide the dough in half using chef's knife.
-
17
Form each half into rough ball, cover loosley with plasic wrap or damp kitchen towel, and let rise for 15 minutes.
-
18
Using your hands to push the dough against the unfloured work surface, form a taught ball without ripping the surface.
-
19
Pinch bottom seam and set each round, seam side down, on separate sheets of parchment paper on dinner plates.
-
20
Spray rounds lightly with non-stick cooking oil and cover loosley, but completely, with plastic wrap.
-
21
Refrigerate for 8- 12 hours.
-
22
Remove the rounds from refrigerator and gently slide (with parchment paper) on to room-temperature surface where they can rise undisturbed for several hours.
-
23
Loosen plastic wrap to allow rounds to rise; let rise until double in bulk and dough barely springs back when poked with your knuckle, 3-4 hours.
-
24
Place baking stone on lower-middle position.
-
25
Preheat oven to 500u00b0F.
-
26
Carefully slide rounds on parchment to baking peel or rimless cookie sheet.
-
27
Using sharp knife slash rounds diagonally.
-
28
Spray loaves with water and slide carefully on to baking stone.
-
29
Immediately reduce the temperature to 450u00b0.
-
30
During the first 5 minutes spray the loaves 2 additional times.
-
31
Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
-
32
Transfer loaves to wire rack and cool to room temperature.