# The Art of Bread Making: A Simple Lean Dough Recipe with Overnight Preferment
Have you ever wondered how bakers achieve that perfect crusty bread with a soft, fluffy inside? It’s all about the method and ingredients they use. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making a simple lean dough with overnight preferment. This recipe is perfect for beginners who want to try their hand at baking scrumptious artisan bread.
## What is Lean Dough?
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s first understand what lean dough is. Typically, bread dough is made up of four basic ingredients – flour, water, yeast, and salt. However, when we talk about lean dough, it refers to bread that has a low-fat content with little to no sugar or dairy products. This type of dough is used to make artisan bread such as sourdough, baguettes, and ciabatta.
## Overnight Preferment: The Secret to Perfect Bread
One of the keys to achieving a delicious, crusty bread is to use a preferment. Preferment is a small amount of dough made in advance and left to ferment for a long period. This allows the dough to develop complex flavours, improves its texture and makes it easier to digest. In our recipe, we will be using an overnight preferment to add depth to our bread.
### The Recipe: Simple Lean Dough with Overnight Preferment
*Ingredients:*
– 200g high-quality bread flour
– 160g water
– 1g instant yeast
– 4g salt
#### Step 1: Prepare the Preferment
1. Mix together 50g of bread flour, 50g of water and a pinch of yeast in a bowl.
2. Cover with a clean cloth and leave it at a room temperature of about 25°C for 12-16 hours.
#### Step 2: Mix the Dough
1. In a separate bowl, mix together the rest of the flour, water, yeast, salt and preferment.
2. Knead the dough for 10 minutes until a smooth texture is achieved.
3. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
#### Step 3: Shape the Dough
1. Remove the dough from the bowl and knock out the air with your hands.
2. Shape the dough into a ball or a cylindrical loaf.
3. Place the dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
4. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rest for 2-3 hours at a temperature of 25°C.
#### Step 4: Bake the Bread
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C.
2. Make shallow cuts on the surface of the dough.
3. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
4. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
### Tips and Tricks
– When shaping the dough, make sure it is not too loose or too tight, as this can affect the final texture of the bread.
– To achieve a crispy crust, add a tray of water to the bottom of the oven during the first few minutes of baking.
– Always use high-quality flour for better results.
– You can experiment with different types of flour for more flavour.
### Conclusion
Making bread may seem like a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and technique, anyone can create delicious homemade bread. Our simple lean dough recipe with overnight preferment is perfect for beginners who want to try their hand at baking artisan bread. Remember to be patient and give the dough enough time to rest and ferment. The result will be a beautifully crusty bread with a soft, fluffy inside that will impress your friends and family. Happy baking!
