WILD GARLIC FOCACCIA

For the biga

150g strong white bread flour
2g active dried yeast
30mL olive oil
120mL room temperature water

In a mixing bowl bring together all of the ingredients for the biga and mix by hand for about five minutes. Cover the dough and place in the fridge for 8-12 hours

This slow fermentation builds up delicious flavour compounds and allows the yeast to build in strength.

Now for the focaccia dough -

230mL warm water (around 40ºc)
300g strong white bread flour
5g salt
3g active dried yeast
40mL olive oil
Extra oil for your hands and drizzling

To garnish

Good handful of fresh wild garlic leaves
Sea salt

In a large mixing bowl, combine the biga and the water and mix for a couple of minutes. Add the remaining focaccia ingredients and bring the dough together. Knead for five minutes until it starts to feel elastic. The dough should be soft, loose and sticky. You may find it easier to keep the dough in the bowl to knead it. With oiled hands fold the outside edges of the dough into the centre and flip it over in the bowl, then cover the whole exposed surface with the olive oil.

Cover and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes. Now you want to begin a series of folds; carefully lifting and pulling the dough from each corner into the middle, trapping in the air and building the structure. Ideally this is repeated four or five times throughout the proving time, or you can just leave your dough to prove at room temperature for a total of about two hours.

Heavily oil a roasting tray or line a large baking tray with silicone paper.

Once again, fold the dough over in the bowl, bringing the outside edges over. Lift the dough out carefully and place it into the tray. Leave for ten minutes.

Brush olive oil over the whole surface of the loaf, then push your fingers into the dough to create dimples on the surface. Be bold, but take care not to tear or stretch the dough out too much. Push out to fill the whole tray.

Roughly chop some of the wild garlic leaves and sprinkle over the top of the loaf. Push the leaves into the dough. Sprinkle with the sea salt and leave for about forty minutes to an hour, until beautifully risen. Finely slice the remaining garlic and combine with a little olive oil, keep to one side.

Place into a preheated oven at 220ºc. Bake for ten minutes, then rotate the tray and bake for another ten minutes. Turn the oven down to 200ºc and bake for a further five minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining wild garlic and olive oil.

Allow to rest for 15 minutes and serve slightly warm.

 
 

SQUASH & RAISIN BRIOCHE

The perfect loaf for autumn, warm, soft and comforting. This also makes excellent bread and butter pudding filler.

280g strong white flour
1 tbsp active sourdough starter (optional)
20g egg yolk
35g whole egg
10mL milk
160g squash, peeled, chopped, baked , mashed and cooled
pinch cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
pinch ginger
5g instant yeast
5g salt
water, as needed
40g brown sugar
15g raisins
75g unsalted, cubed and softened butter

Place the flour, eggs, yolks, milk, squash, spices, yeast and salt in a metal bowl or stand mixer. Mix well for a few minutes, the dough should be stiff but come together. If it seems too dry, then add a little water to form the dough. If working by hand, tip the dough onto your work bench.
Slowly mix in the sugar, bit by bit. Knead for a few minutes till well incorporated and the gluten begins to work. The dough will become more elastic and springy. Add the soft butter and mix in until the dough is soft and silky, with a good spring. Add the raisins and combine with the dough.

Transfer the dough back into your greased mixing bowl. Allow it to double in size; this will take around 1 hour at room temperature. Alternatively, place in the fridge overnight (8-12 hours), this will make a better dough, as more flavour develops and the gluten strengthens.

When the dough is ready, tip back onto the work bench and shape as desired. Place into tins or onto greaseproof paper. Brush the dough lightly with egg wash made from remaining egg, a little milk and a pinch of salt. Allow to prove for a further 45 minutes or so.

Preheat the oven to 190ºC . Brush your dough once more with the egg wash and bake in the oven for 20-40 minutes depending on loaf style. Allow to cool slightly before eating.