Soft and airy , light, almost translucent , crunchy and divine !
Sourdough smitten that I am , I spend almost every weekend in my kitchen making some for the week. Sourdough absolutely rules my heart !
This week I decided to attempt the very daunting Pan de Cristal. More simply known as Crystal bread or Glass bread , this bread originated in Catalunya in Spain , and has fast become very popular all over the country especially in Barcelona !
As I am throughly passionate about travelling and baking , this was right up my alley.
I used Teresa Greenways recipe for this. This was the first time I’ve done a 100% hydration dough and I was beyond excited.
I started off my flour and water and oil in the Kitchenaid . I watched excitedly as I saw the dough whirling away in the mixing bowl. What the recipe said would take 15 mins , took 45 mins and a continous ice bath to achieve. All thanks to the soaring high temperatures that my country is oh so famous for.
Finally I had a strong dough. Every fold I could feel it strengthen and tighten . It was like a white ball of water. I could feel it tugging. I could feel a strong force and resistance as I folded it.
It also felt silky soft , slippery , slimy and wet. All the good signs of a nice strong dough.
Then in the fridge it went to retard the fermentation.
15 hours and a lot of impatience later , I opened the cloth above to reveal the dough. It had risen up strong , proud and beautiful! Filled with gorgeous bubbles . It lookes alive and full of vigour.
I shaped them and put them on my pizza stone and covered them , ready to bake.
Out the oven , and there they were, all golden brown and gorgeous! Beautiful littles loaves of bread. Royally resplendent!
Air bubbles on the crust , almost weightless and puffy. They looked heavenly. Aaah the symphony of the cracky crust!
I cut in to reveal the most gorgeous crumb , light and airy ,almost like butter or silk almost as if a gossamer gown. So fragile , so ethereal, so exquisite! As beautiful as a shattery crystal.
The perfectly large holes that define a good and airated sourdough bread. All the things a great bread is made of.
The mouthfeel was tingling and enticing! Tender and ambrosial ! Airy , crunchy on the top , large air pockets. Soft as silk. Melting in the mouth. It was pure heaven.
Luxuriously , Sumptuously , Delictable.
And for me , nothing is more fullfilling , more snug , more hygge than freshly baked bread. For nothing says home , like the smell of baking.
You have to teach me to bake! I could almost imagine the amazing whiff of freshly baked bread through the window on reading your article! Amazingly done!
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Thankyouu !!!😄😄😄 Yess lets bake together !!
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Absolutely!
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Can you fed ex me some?? Bahahahaha 🙈🙈🙈
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😂😂😂😂😂😂
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