How do you make chewy italian bread?
Chewy Italian bread begins with a biga – yeast-based starter Italian Biga Bread Cooking time: About 30 minutes Prep time: 15 to 25 minutes, plus about 8 1/2 hours for rising Notes: This recipe is best suited for a lazy weekend, but you can gear it to a weekday schedule. The biga can be made ahead and chilled or frozen, and the kneaded dough can rest in the refrigerator up to 24 hours before its first rise. You can double or triple the biga for later baking (the biga will rise on the shorter end of the noted time). A baking stone (sold with gourmet cookware) makes the thickest, crispest crust, but you can use a large baking sheet. Makes: 1 loaf: 1 pound, 7 ounces 1/2 cup lukewarm water 1 1/4 teaspoons (about 1/2 package) active dry yeast About 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup ice-cold water 2 teaspoons salt 1. Biga. In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup lukewarm water and 1/4 teaspoon yeast. Let stand until yeast is dissolved, about 5 minutes. With your hands, mix in 3/4 cup flour until evenly m
