Cara's Cuban Bread
photo by Chef Lizza
- Ready In:
- 2hrs 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Yields:
-
2 loaves
ingredients
- 3 package active dry yeast (eg Fleischmanns)
- 19.71 ml brown sugar
- 473.18 ml water
- 1182.95-1419.54 ml bread flour, divided
- 14.79 ml salt
- cornmeal, for sprinkling on baking sheet
- 1 egg (or 1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash)
- 177.44 ml hot water
directions
- Combine yeast, brown sugar and warm water in a large mixing bowl; stir to mix.
- Stir in 2 cups of the flour; beat well.
- Let stand 10 minutes for yeast to develop.
- Stir in salt.
- Add remaining 3 to 4 cups flour, about 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition, until a stiff dough forms.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface.
- Knead 8 to 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed to keep dough manageable.
- Dough should be smooth, elastic and not sticky.
- Oil the surface of the dough and put it in the rinsed mixing bowl.
- Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 45 to 60 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.
- Punch down dough.
- Knead lightly.
- Form into two long loaves.
- Sprinkle cornmeal on a baking sheet; place loaves on baking sheet.
- Let rise, uncovered, 10 minutes.
- Using a sharp knife or razor blade, make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes in the top of each loaf.
- Brush loaves with egg wash.
- Place on middle shelf of a cold oven.
- Place a shallow pan on the bottom shelf; pour hot water into pan.
- Set oven temperature at 400 degrees and bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until loaves are well browned and sound hollow when tapped.
- Remove from baking sheet and let cool on wire racks.
- Note: For the best results, this recipe requires bread flour.
- All-purpose flour works, but it often produces a low loaf if it is not kneaded thoroughly.
- Notice the absence of oil or butter in the dough, which makes the bread crustier.
- This bread is so good you won't have to worry much about leftovers, but if you think you'll use only one loaf within a day, don't freeze the other-- just give it away!
Questions & Replies
Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
see 12 more reviews
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Missy Wombat
Australia
I'm an ex-pat NZer living in the tropical Top End of Australia. Which makes it a perfect place to make homemade bread and summer recipes all year around. I experiment on my 3 kids who have grown up trying new Zaar recipes every other day and they are thriving.
I'm the lacto-ovo vegetarian in the family and somehow I got roped in to become a Forum Host here at Zaar. So check out the Vegetarian and Vegan Forum http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewforum.zsp?f=43 and feel free to join in whether you are a fully fledged vegan or someone who needs to cater for a vegetarian and has no idea where to start.
Every year I try to do something a bit different to push the envelope a little bit. In 2005 I learned how to sail a dinghy; 2006's grand passion is mosaics. Check out my blog!
Between raising three children, working almost fulltime and trying to pursue my hobbies...let's say that my time management skills have greatly improved over the years!
I am also very interested in living a sustainable lifestyle. Essentially I'm finding that I'm getting back to the country lifestyle I enjoyed in my childhood even though these days I live in themiddle of suburbia. To this end I have started gardening although I am a total gardening virgin when it comes to gardening in a tropical climate. I also have a cookbook with a number of recipes you can make from scratch. Living clean and green is good for you AND cheaper!