Roggenbrot German Rye Hardbread Recipes

RECIPE FOR RYE BREAD WITH SOURDOUGH (ROGGENBROT)

Steps:

• If you have a sack of whole grain or stone-ground rye flour, sift it through a fine sieve (1 millimeter or 1/32 inch mesh) and use the sieved portion for this dough. Retain the bran and large pieces of cracked rye for the crust. You will need to sift another cup or so, to get 2 1/4 cups of rye flour (300 grams). If you have medium or light rye flour, do not sieve.
• Mix the rye flour with a cup (250 grams) of water and about 2 tablespoons of rye starter (30 grams) which can come straight from the refrigerator. Feed the starter , while you are at it, then return to the refrigerator.
• When those three ingredients are thoroughly wetted, cover with a lid or plastic and let it ferment at room temperature (about 75 F) for 16 hours. If it is colder than 75 F, you might let it ferment a bit longer.
• You will not see any physical change in the wet, sticky dough, but you should smell a strong, sourdough smell.
• Use the entire rye sourdough and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix with a stand mixer for about 7 minutes on low with a dough hook.
• Turn onto a clean board and knead a few times with your wet hands. The dough is firm but sticky, wetting your hands will keep it from sticking too badly. Form into a ball, place in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth for 30 minutes at room temperature. You may see some rise. For rolls: On a lightly floured board, form dough into 100 gram balls, flatten to rectangles and shape into 4 inch baguettes. Dip the rolls into water and then roll in leftover rye bran or just roll in some white flour for a rustic look (no water). Makes 11 rolls. For bread: Divide dough into two parts and shape into boules ( pictorial ) or a batard ( video ).
• Let bread or rolls rise for 70 minutes on parchment paper, covered with a damp cloth.
• Preheat oven, preferably with baking stone, for 60 minutes at 450 F.
• Slash rolls or bread with a lame or razor blade.
• Slide the parchment with the rolls onto the baking stone, if you can. Bake with steam (5 minutes of steam) for 25 to 30 minutes (bread 40 to 50 minutes) and turn oven down to 400 F as soon as you put the dough into the oven.
• Cool bread on racks for dry crusts and eat or freeze as you like. The rolls make great cocktail breads when cut into thin slices.

ROGGENBROT (GERMAN RYE HARDBREAD)

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve yeast into warm water. In a large bowl combine your milk, sugar, and you salt. Use your mixer to blend in molasses, butter, and yeast mixture and add 1 Cup of rye flour.
• 2. Use a wooden spoon to mix in remaining rye flour. Add white flour, stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• 3. Knead for 5 to 10 minutes with the heal of you hands. If the dough sticks to your hands or the board, sprinkle flour on the board or dough as needed.
• 4. Place dough on floured board, put a warm damp cloth on top of dough rise from 1 to 1 1/2 hours or till double in size. Punch down the dough and divide to form 2 round loaves. Sprinkle cornmeal on the baking sheet or stone. Let the loaves rise on a cooking sheet or baking stone. If you are using bread pans lightly grease and dust with cornmeal. Let loaves rise 1 1/2 hours.
• 5. Preheat oven to 375* Bake for 30-35 minutes. Take out and turn on to rack, brush the top with melted butter. Yields 2 loaves.

AUTHENTIC GERMAN BREAD (BAUERNBROT)

Steps:

• First, make the sourdough starter. Crumble the yeast into a large bowl. Whisk in 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons of sugar until dissolved. The water should be just slightly warmer than body temperature. Gradually whisk in 4 cups of flour, continuing to mix until all lumps are gone. Cover with a dish towel, and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature.
• After 24 hours, stir well, cover, and let stand another 24 hours. It will be a thin, light-colored sourdough which is then ready to use.
• In a large bowl, stir together the rye flour, remaining 4 cups of all-purpose flour, salt and sugar. Mix in the sourdough starter using a wooden spoon, then stir in 2 cups of warm water. I transfer the dough to a heavy-duty stand mixer to mix the first couple of minutes, then it can't handle the heavy dough and I start using my hands by turning the dough out onto a floured surface. A clean countertop works best. Knead the dough, adding a few tablespoons of water at a time if it is too stiff. Fold the dough over, pull it apart, whatever you can do to get it kneaded up good. Total kneading time should be 15 to 20 minutes to get a smooth dough. Place the dough in a large bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
• When the dough has risen, scrape it out of the bowl and back onto a floured surface. Knead for about 5 minutes. This is important to activate the gluten. Shape into 1 or 2 long loaves. Place on baking sheets, and let rise for about 1 hour, or until your finger leaves an impression when you poke the bread gently.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bake the bread for about 45 minutes for 2 loaves, 1 1/2 hours if you made one big loaf. Don't worry if the crust is dark. The bread will be delicious and so will the crust. Cool completely before cutting. I always freeze half.

GERMAN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In a 4-qt. glass bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; whisk in rye flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel. Let stand in a warm place for about 4 hours or until batter falls about 1 in. and surface bubble activity is reduced. Stir in the sugar, caraway seeds, salt, 5 cups all-purpose flour and remaining water; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes., Divide dough into four portions. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Shape into four round loaves, about 6 in. each. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray; sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon cornmeal. Place loaves on pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., With a sharp knife, make several slashes across the top of each loaf. Brush with egg. Sprinkle each loaf with 1 teaspoon caraway seeds. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes, rotating pans after 15 minutes, or until browned. Cool on wire racks.

ROGGENBROT (RYE BREAD)

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a large bowl combine milk, sugar, and salt.
• Use a mixer to beat in molasses, butter, yeast mixture and 1 cup of rye flour.
• Use a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining rye flour.
• Add white flour by stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• Knead 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as needed.
• If the dough sticks to your hands or the board add more flour.
• Cover dough and let rise 1 1/2 hours or until double.
• Punch down dough and divide to form 2 round loaves.
• Let loaves rise on a greased baking sheet until double, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Makes 2 round loaves.