Chewy French Bread

Overhead shot of a loaf of sliced French bread.

Print Pin

4.82 from 211 votes

A chewy and versatile bread, great for dipping in soup, as a sandwich, or just eating with a pat of butter!

Course Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword 5 ingredient bread, bread for soup, chewy bread, french bread

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 25

Rise Time 1

Total Time 1 55

Servings slices

Calories 116kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon yeast (9 grams) - I use Red Star
1 Tablespoon white sugar (12 grams)
2 teaspoons kosher salt (12 grams)
2 1/2 cups warm water (about 590 grams) - not hot, not cold!
6 - 6½ cups all-purpose flour (720 - 780 grams) - or until right consistency

Instructions

** I recently adjusted this recipe and eliminated one of the rises. I don't think it's necessary for this recipe and it saves time.
Activate the yeast. Using a large standing mixer, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water (warmed between 100-110 degrees F). Take a spatula, and stir it around a couple of times. Then let it sit for about 15 minutes so that the yeast activates. You should see a bubbly mixture when it’s ready. See below.
1 Tablespoon yeast (9 grams) 1 Tablespoon white sugar (12 grams) 2 1/2 cups warm water (about 590 grams)
Add flour to desired consistency. Start by adding the salt and about four cups of flour to the mixer. Let the mixer run, and occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Gradually add more flour until you get a nice dough consistency. It should be slightly sticky, but easy to handle.
2 teaspoons kosher salt (12 grams) 6 - 6½ cups all-purpose flour (720 - 780 grams)
Let the dough rise. Grease a large bowl with canola or olive oil. Remove the dough from the mixer, and form it into a ball, punching it down so that it becomes smooth. Then place it in the bowl seem side down and cover it with a clean dishtowel.
Place the bowl in a warm corner of your kitchen and let rise until approximately doubled in size. The rise may be different each time and will vary depending on where you live.
Form loaves of bread (or buns). Once the bread rises, it’s time to form the dough into desired shapes. Prepare bread pans or jelly roll pans with baking spray.
Add a little oil to a pastry mat or a large flat surface (a cutting board works too), and form sections of dough into oblong shapes for large French bread, or into smaller shapes for buns or smaller loaves. Another option is baking a round of dough in a cast iron skillet.
Let rise again. Cover dough with clean dish towels and let it rise again, until almost doubled in size.
Prepare for baking. Use a sharp serrated edge knife (or a bread lame) to cut diagonal slits in the tops of the bread. Beat one large egg (with a splash of water), and using a pastry brush, spread a thin layer over the tops of bread/rolls. Add a sprinkle of kosher salt.
When scoring the bread, make sure you use a very sharp knife or a bread lame (with a razor blade) to ensure that the cuts are quick and to avoid deflating the loaves.
Bake. Bake bread in a preheated 400 degree oven, until done, approximately 25 minutes. The bottoms should be slightly browned, and the tops a nice golden brown. Remove bread to a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

Regarding measuring: If you have a scale, I recommend measuring the ingredients in grams, especially the water and flour. This will make it easier for you to get the correct consistency for this bread recipe.

Storing: This bread is best fresh the first day! It can be stored in airtight bags on counter for 2-3 days.

Freezing: You can freeze this bread in freezer bags for up to three months.

RECIPE TIPS:

Using warm water will activate the yeast mixture. After about 10-15 minutes, it should be foamy.
Add flour until you get the right consistency. It should be slightly sticky, but easy to handle.
The dough will rise differently each time you make it, depending on the temperature/humidity inside and outside your house.
Different climates also affect how fast dough rises. In Texas, my dough rises pretty quickly due to more heat and humidity.
This bread makes a terrific Beef Au Jus Sandwich or Pulled Pork Sandwich. My recipes can be found at suebeehomemaker.com. Just search in the sidebar.

Nutrition