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Poilâne Inspired Process for dough and Levain de Pâte

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

Poilâne Inspired Process for dough and Levain de Pâte

I went to my neighbourhood bookstore, Mary Ryan, after dropping my son to school the other day.  The timber flour and the Bach playing in the background made me want to stay longer.  I paid for a cookbook, Bécasse, and quickly left.  I wanted to have breakfast and coffee at Chouquette Boulangerie & Patisserie.  This was my first time back there since my last post about them five months ago.  Their business is going really well.  Quite obviously, there are unfilled demands for good quality breads and pastries around Brisbane.  I peeped into their production area right next to the shop front, only two people remaining there, decorating pastries.  I asked for butter for my Baguette Traditionnel to go with my coffee.  Lovely coffee, lovely baguette, and a lovely morning. 

While the baguette I had was made early that morning, the crust was not all that crunchy any more, without being heated up again.  The labour is so expensive here in Australia that it is not possible to have several hot bread times intra day.  In Japan and Taiwan, the population density is such that it is economical to provide that kind of quality throughout the day.  Many bakeries over there have a white board standing at the door with hot bread times written on the board as you walk in.

The breads in this post were my "warm-ups" for a Lionel Poilâne style of miche.  I have ordered my T80 flour from a French on-line grocer.  It is wicked to think we are able to order anything from anywhere in the world on-line.  I have almost all of Lionel Poilâne's books and have been studying them.  Many people have tried to bake a Poilâne style of miche.  While I do not believe there is such a thing called the best bread in the world, the intriguing thing, to me as a home baker, about Miche Poilâne is its process; i.e., you set aside a portion of the dough to be the levain de pâte for the next batch of dough and, again, a portion of the next dough is sectioned off to be the levain for yet another dough, thus, making dough and levain a seamless continuous process.  To be exact, 1/3 of the dough is set aside and proved for a couple of hours before being used as a levain and added to the next dough.

Courtesy of Eric at Breadtopia.com, the following two pictures were the famous Miche Poilâne, air-flown from Paris to Iowa, the USA, in March 2007, for his bread-day (birthday) party:

 

                         

                                                    Miche Poilâne, air-flown from Paris to Iowa

 

We cannot call a miche that we made a true Poilâne style of miche without using the flour that they use.  The flour combination that I used for the breads in this post is no where near T80 but is fun for me because it is a change from my usual white flour.  This post for me is about Poilâne's process.

My Continuous Dough and Levain Process

Basically I wanted to make a miche of about 1 kg each.  I also wanted to set aside about 1/3 of my dough as levain for my next dough, so for my first dough I needed to have about 1.35 - 1.4 kg.

Next, I needed to decide on a hydration.  I chose 75%.  Miche Poilâne is about 65% hydration.  Their hydration is because of the flour they use is a softer kind of flour; but my flour combination (see below) can take more hydration and would love more hydration.  A 75% hydration has another advantage - it makes calculation really easy.  This hydration is for the main dough as it is for the levain as they are the same process.

Next, flour combination.  I chose to have 50% bread flour, 30% whole wheat flour, 10% spelt, and 10% rye.  I used this combination for all my seven miches in this post, except the last two.   The seven miches were made, one after another, in a space of 5 days.   For the 6th miche, I used 50% bread flour and 50% sifted whole wheat flour and for my very last miche, see below.

For my first miche, I pre-scaled 800 grams of flours (in the above combination), 600 grams of water, and 16 grams of salt, for use in the levain as well as the main dough.  

First, the levain for the first miche.  I took 20 grams of my usual white starter from the refrigerator as my chef and built it to 350 grams in three stages, using 200 grams in total of the 800 grams of flours and 150 grams in total of the 600 grams of water.  When the levain was ready, I then mixed my main dough using the rest of the ingredients, including salt. 

After an autolyse of 30 minutes and 20 stretch-and-folds in the mixing bowl, I set aside 350 grams of the dough to be the levain de pâte for my 2nd dough.  Instead of two-hour ferment as per Poilâne, my levain de pâte was fermented on average for 5 - 6 hours as I like my levain to almost triple.  My room temperature averaged around 26 - 27 ºC.   The salt in the levain meant that it developed more slowly, allowing more flavours and aromas in the end result.  

The first dough had 2 1/2 hour bulk ferment and about 2 1/2 hour proofing. 

 

            

  • 1st miche:  Crumb tasted a little bit gummy and very sour.  (I guess this was because my chef was straight out of the fridge.  If I had refreshed my starter culture at least a couple of times before the 3-stage levain build, the miche would not have been so sour).

 

Just before the first miche was baked, my first levain de pâte was ready to mix my second dough.  For my second dough (and all of the rest of the doughs except my 7th miche), I pre-scaled 600 grams of flours (in the combination detailed above), 450 grams of water, and 12 grams of salt.  I mixed the second dough.  Again, autolyse, stretch and folds ... the same procedure, and set aside 350 grams as levain de pâte for the third dough.

My second dough was proof-retarded overnight.   While the second dough was being retarded in the refrigerator, the levain de pâte for the third dough became ready late that night.  It was getting late, but instead of placing the levain in the refrigerator for use the following morning, I decided to mix my third dough there and then.  Again, the same procedure, including taking 350 grams off the dough as levain for my fourth dough.  Just before mid-night, I place my third dough to bulk retard in the refrigerator.

 

            

  • 2nd miche:  The gumminess has disappeared but the taste is still very sour.

 

The next morning when the above 2nd miche was baking in the oven, the third dough was warming up to the room temperature.  And, in the mean time, the levain de pâte for the fourth dough was ripe to use.  The continuous dough and levain process was such that there were three things going at one point.

 

           

                                   

           

  • 4th & 5th miche:  These were my favourite of the lot (except my 7th miche in this post).  They were light and spongy and toasted beautifully.  Because of the whole grain flours, the two miches above were still sour, not in an unpleasant way, but I am not one who loves pickles.  They tasted a lot better the next day and the next day again - the sourness had mellowed and the flavour was more rounded. 

 

For the whole time up to that point, my levain de pâte smelled sour.  And then, all of a sudden, my levain de pâte for my 6th dough smelled milky, very milky.   The multiple feedings (and perhaps the relatively short refreshment time as well) had finally done the trick.  I was so happy that I decided I would do something different for my 6th miche.   Instead of 600 grams in the flour combination above, I used 600 grams of sifted WW flour.  I had to use 700 grams WW flour to get 600 grams finely sifted WW flour.  I was amazed at the amount of brans in my usual WW flour.  

 

           

                                        

  • 6th miche: Unfortunately, I was running out of gas, getting impatient, and did not allow enough time for my 6th dough to ferment (at bulk and proof).  It had the promise to be one of the best miches of the lot, but the promise did not come to fruition.  While large and irregular holes are visible in the crumb shot above, where there are no holes, the crumb actually felt dense.  And the flavour, oh, what a disappointment!  I would have thought that, with all the brans taken off, the crumb would taste sweet. But, No... I am not being critical... the taste was kind of bland and the mouth feel was heavy.  I didn't even like it toasted the next day.  This just goes to show that it is no good hurrying.  For crumb flavour to develop, time is of essence.

 

I rested for half a day, so did the levain de pâte (part of the 6th dough), resting in the refrigerator.   I just had to pull it out again from the fridge to make one more try.  And this time, for my 7th miche, I decided to make a 4 pounds loaf (the size of Miche Poilâne) with 5% WW, 5% Spelt, 5% rye, and the rest white.  I gave the dough a slow, long bulk ferment of 6 - 7 hours overnight at room temperature of around 24.5 - 25 ºC.  As the dough became bigger, my levain de pâte as a percentage of the final dough had become smaller.   The next morning, before I shaped, I turned on my oven full blast to pre-heat.  The shaped dough proved for only an hour and 15 minutes (because of the long bulk).  And the result is ....Bellissimo!  

 

        

                                                                                               

        

                                                                

  • 7th miche:  The flavour is well rounded, not too much acidity, just enough, and very "creamy."  The texture is supple.

 

The cells of this miche were very well fermented.  In the centre, there might not be large and irregular holes, but the texture was light, very different from my 6th miche.  I cut the 4 pounds miche in half below:

 

                                                                            

         

                        

                                                                       crumb of the 7th miche

 

If you look closely and compare the crumb shot above with the crumb shot of th 6th miche, you will see that there is much more lightness and suppleness in the 7th miche.

Overall, this had been a fun exercise.  It would have been better in winter when everything can be left on the kitchen counter without having to worry if the levain or the dough gets over fermented.  With a continuous dough and levain process like this one, you bound to have good bread sometimes along the way.   Enjoy!

 

Shiao-Ping

Comments

ZD's picture
ZD

Yes it was 24 years ago. I had been baking bread full time for about a year. My brother was in Paris and then flew to visit us and brought the loaf with him. I am a little older then I look in my avatar. ;D 

Mom is a photographer and she just gave me a disk with a lot of old bread photos. 

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

I don't know of any one who is so well organized to be able to pull out the exact photo 24 years ago.  I am very impressed.  The only exception that I know of is my husband.  Two years ago I did a 30 minutes film (a VCD) for my husband's 50th surprise birthday party.  The job was easy for me because he's got everything there ready for me (without him knowing) including the baby photos his late mother left for him. 

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Have you tasted it yet?  What do you think of it? 

I've been following along and enjoying it all.  Thank You.   Do you think the larger the Miche, the better it tastes?    How much does the "P" weigh in all its nobility?

Mini

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

I cannot taste it.  (Now I am being mean - of course I can't taste it; it is a cushion.) 

How much does the "P" weigh in all its nobility?  Well, how much does the Citibank brand name weigh?  A lot!

The larger the Miche, the better it tastes?  That's what they say, isn't it. 

Hey, Mini, I shouldn't say it here, but for the last few days I've been wanting to comment on your wonderful 100% rye bread again, but after I said it's one of the best pure rye bread this century, I couldn't find any other words to add.

Shiao-Ping

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

It sure looks real. 

Once the loaf is eaten, it's gone.  It served it purpose well and I'm happy about it.  I like making it and sharing it.  And I like sharing your loaves too.  Thank you for sharing your loaves with us. 

Now before we both get big egos, tell me about that pillow.  

Hey I'm still waiting for my first baguettes in a long time to rise, they are in the steam oven at 40° proofing and I want to go to bed!  The baguette pixies are not anywhere to be found!

Mini

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

They are so cheap!

I don't think they'd picked the best looking "P" for the pillow (sorry, it is NOT a pillow, it is a cushion, Okay). 

The straight stroke down should be curvy.  They didn't pick the best model. 

Well, you are one hour behind me.  You still have some time before midnight for the baguette.  When friends ask me about my time zone, I said, the sun comes up in New Zealand first, then Australia (East Coast where I am), then Nippon and Korea... then you folks in Taiwan...

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

can't weigh much.  You had me going there for a while...  You are right, their "P" is different, straighter, than the "P" on the cheaper real McCoy.   I did get baguettes finally baked.  Chewed half of one with butter.  This morning they were rocks, with much to do, I spit one to admire the crumb but decided not to fill it for the intended lunch.  I have a new picture in my head for jaw breakers.  Looks can be deceitful.  I will soak them in eggs and milk for a chewy french toast.

I still have some wheat bread w/ rye thank goodness.  A loaf made pouring boiling water over rye flour.  That was a simple loaf.  I was experimenting, again.  It was 150g rye flour with 180g boiling water, stirred to moisten and allowed to cool.  Then slowly added 300g water to thin the soaker.  Then about 170g rye starter 100% hydr.  and 400g bread flour  and finally 10g salt, 10g honey, bread spice and caraway seed.  Gives a 70%  hydration dough with very moist crumb and softer than my usual firm loaf at higher hydration levels. (the wheat) It is only 37.5% rye but it is a no knead.  I used a small frying pan form but it lifted nicely away from the edges in a preheated oven for a nice shape. 

I've discovered about three weeks ago, the bottom of my mini Korean steam oven has no heating element, so I have to preheat a dark colored mass (cooking tray) and place it under the loaf and use a dark colored pan to hold high hydration dough.  I have to use convection and these dark colored surfaces absorb enough heat that if I cover the pan in foil and give it enough time, I can burn the bottom of my loaf.  I should have figured it out sooner.  The volcano loaves, were a strong indication that something was up.  I knew this comes from not enough bottom heat and too much side and top heat.  I had switched to dark pans but every so often, volcano.  The bottom of the oven should have been painted matt black.  Shiny pans result in very light colored crust and volcanoes also on cakes.  I also figured out the major settings, a big help.  Anyway....

I have a starter ready 100g of Rye ready to go... heading back to...

Mini

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

What is Kapok

A chewy French toast sounds like a fine idea to me.  L. Poilane had far, far more Tartine recipes than bread recipes.  (It made you wonder if his bread existed for the tartines.)

You seem to use a lot of pan shapes to hold your high hydration rye mixed bread.  A good idea.

crunchy's picture
crunchy

have you tried putting a matt black oven liner on the bottom of the oven, Mini? It was something that came across  my mind as I was reading your description of the oven.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

I know you have seen Kapok.  It grows in extremely tall trees (with pods hanging down) with few lower branches that seem to pop up from nowhere around fields and rice patties, open villiages in equitorial zones.  Kapok seeds and their fluff, slippery stuff.   In the upper midwest USA similar to the inside of milkweed pods.  Hard to dry if it gets soaked.  When the pods open into the wind, the seeds are like snowflakes but they don't melt dancing on the wind for miles.  So think of your cushion as stuffed with tropical snowflakes or fairies.  Poilaine Kapok Fairies for your pleasure. :)

Crunchy, it came across my mind too.  I don't have a silicone matt but... I have two heavy black baking trays that I normally remove from the oven when baking, unless I'm using them.  Never used both at the same time.  Now one lies upside down on the bottom.  (Maybe the water collecting tray under the oven can't take too much heat and so the coils were left out of the design.)  I made a bread pudding from the baguetts, egg & milk, stirred in cinn. sugar dotting the top with butter slivers to try out the new black-on-the-bottom idea.  The pudding baked an inch above the tray on a triviet in a stoneware cereal bowl.  It baked very well.  The real test comes with the next loaf!   It takes tricks to keep the top of the loaf from hitting the inside top of the oven.  The complete inside height is 19cm or 7 1/2".   If I had a taller oven, I might try for rounder loaves.    Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.

Mini

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

This loaf hit the top of the oven.  So I removed the trivet to finish the bake.

This was at 210°F  the whole time.

As you can see, the crust did a good job of browning on the bottom as well at the sides.  The top browns too much anyway but I slip a small size piece of foil on top so heat still browns the sides.  This is the tallest loaf I can bake with the equipment I have here in S Korea.  I use a 24cm x 7cm deep flat bottom (wok) frying pan.  I think I found the winning set up.  Took me long enough! 

Mini

Shiao-Ping's picture
Shiao-Ping

Mini, That is a very nice looking loaf.   I was recently reading about clay pot baking and it seems to me that it is possible to bake our bread dough from cold oven.   Have you ever tried something like that?  

Thanks for showing the picture, very nice.

Shiao-Ping

RobynNZ's picture
RobynNZ

I'm constantly admiring your ability to persevere and figure out how to make the most of your situation/equipment. This bread looks delicious.

Cheers, Robyn

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