Pataqueta - A traditional Bread from Valencia - Baking Partner's Challenge - Step by step

Its November and here comes a traditional bread for thanksgiving party. This is a traditional bread of "Valencia". This is not like ordinary bread. It has thick crumb and soft interior. Pretty easy too. This recipe was shared by "Marisa " of "Thermofan". She adapted this recipe from here  . Linking this to Swathi's "Baking partner's Challenge" 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

For the Cold fermentation

 

1.Water              -      100 ml /

2.White flour       -       50 g /1/3 cup ( Use allpurpose flour/Maida)

3.12.5 g fresh yeast/5g or1 ½ tsp Instant yeast/6.25g or 2tsp active dry yeast

4.Sugar               -       1/2 tsp

 

For Bread dough

1. Strong bread flour      -      450 g/ 3 cup (substitute with all purpose flour/Maida)

2. Tepid water                -     200 ml

3. Fine sea salt                -     10 g/1 ¾ teaspoon

4. All the ferment             

a little flour for dusting the work surface and the bread.



 

  

Method:

Cold fermentation:

Take a mixing bowl, add yeast,flour and sugar. I used active dry yeast. So added 2 tsp of yeast.

 

Now add the water slowly and mix it well. Refrigerate it for atleast one day . We can keep the flour mix for atmost 48 hours. This is called cold fermentation.

 

After a day, yeast would have worked on the flour well. The pores on the flour mix represents the work of yeast.

 In the same bowl, add the bread flour and mix it.Take water in a microwave safe bowl, heat water for about 30 seconds. That is the water should be warm, not hot.

 Pour the water to the flour mix and knead it .At this point, the dough will be very sticky.

 

 So flour the work surface and knead the dough  for atleast 10 minutes.The dough should be smooth and elastic. Chk the dough using window pane test.

 

 Divide the dough into equal sized balls and let it rest it in a warm place for atleast 20 minutes.Cover it with a clean cloth.

 Press the dough balls into flat disc .Take a sharp knife and cut in the middle .

                                   Now make a slit at the top, as shown in the picture.

 Place it on a parchment paper ,which is palced on a baking pan. Keep the shaped dough for proofing in a warm place. It took around 1 hour for me ,for the dough to double in size.

 After an hour, it doubles in size. Now take the knife and make the slit prompt as shown. Sprinkle some flour on top of the bread.

 

 Bring pan of  water to boil on the stove. Let it be rolling boil. Pour the hot water on a rectangular pan. Pre heat the oven for 392 degrees F.

Place the pan of water under the bread pan as shown.

 



 

 Bake the pataquetas for 30 minutes, or until you see golden colour on the outer side. When you tap the bread, you should hear hollow sound, this is when the bread is ready.

 

 

Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks. Serve it with some hot coffee or hot cocoa.My kids enjoyed the bread as such. It had a crumbed top and  soft inside. The bread tastes good, when it it is hot.

 We enjoyed making these traditional bread . I just halved the recipe .