Archaeology of Bread

mention brioche

 WHAT IS A BRIOCHE? While technically a French Viennoiserie (pastry) recipe, little to no sugar is used in this pain.  The bread is loaded with butter and egg which gives it an almost creamy taste.  Yeast is used which allows the dough to aerate (yielding a lighter, more tender texture).  Think of it as a […]

 WHAT IS A CRUSTY BLOOMER? This loaf of bread is long with rounded ends and several parallel slashes on top (at an angle).  Much like a sourdough it’s hard and crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside.  A traditional recipe favored by English bakeries, this dense bread is often used in sandwiches or […]

 WHAT IS A BAGEL? Originally known as a beigel in its native Poland, these gluten bracelets are beloved all over the world.  An Ashkenazi Jewish delicacy, these breads are unique in that they’re cooked for several minutes in boiling water (malted) before being baked.  When placed in the oven, water quickly evaporates from the bread’s […]

 WHAT IS CIABATTA BREAD? This Italian classic is not as old as you might think.  It’s the Italian version of a French baguette whose name means “slipper.”  Despite the name, ciabatta is a long, flat rectangular bread filled with irregularly shaped holes.  This Italian loaf is made from a mix of white and rye flour.  […]

WHAT IS A NAAN? The name itself is based on the Persian word for bread.  A leavened dough with a squashed oval shape, it’s often made in a clay oven.  Originally a delicacy for rich noble families, today in the poorer parts of Asia this flatbread is often made on the inside of used metal […]

 WHAT IS A TORTILLA? This Spanish version of a French crepe is made from either corn or wheat flour.  Like an Indian chapati, it’s unleavened and was invented long before Europeans arrived.  Made in Mexico since 10,000 B.C. it was a food served to both peasants and kings.  Back then, other vegetables like squash were […]

WHAT IS CORNBREAD? Having a self-explanatory name doesn’t make it any less tasty.  This Native American delicacy is a gluten-free leavened bread (though the yeast is optional).  Today this food more then any other is an icon of southern cuisine in the United States.  Dry corn kernels are ground into a coarse meal that are […]

WHAT IS A BRUSCHETTA? What pain perdu (French toast) is to bread recycling in France, bruschetta is to Italy.  This more savory take is an antipasto (appetizer) that is is rubbed with olive oil and garlic and then grilled.  Then a variety of simple toppings are added and much like a Spanish tapas, served as […]

WHAT IS EZEKIEL SPROUTED WHEAT? Ezekiel bread is based on a Biblical recipe named after the Jewish prophet of the same name.  Around 600 B.C. he spent a year planning the siege of Jerusalem while eating only this bread. “Take also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils and millet, and spelt and […]

WHAT IS A BAGUETTE? This long, thin loaf of bread is famous for having a nice hard crust with a chewy interior.  It’s second only to cheese in being an icon of French food.  The word itself means “stick” or “wand”.  However by European standards the baguette is a relatively recent fad.  Prior to the […]

WHAT IS A PITA? This whole wheat flatbread has been a Middle Eastern favorite for over 4,000 years!  While often described as unleavened, it’s actually a yeast leavened bread.  That combined with the water turning to steam is what gives the pita its hollow pocket.  In the Middle Ages it was what sliced bread is […]

WHAT IS A PRETZEL? This is, simply put, one of the most awesome inventions in the history of mankind.  Yes people can’t stop raving about fire, religion, the wheel, the printing press, or penicillin.  Blah, blah, blah.  Those are all life-changing inventions, but don’t let the humble nature of the pretzel fool you! vs. Fire […]

WHAT IS WHOLEMEAL RYE BREAD? Along with wheat and barley, rye is one of the three types of grains that contain gluten.  Wholemeal means that both the softer inner portion of the grain head (endosperm) and the harder protective outer layer are processed.  Unlike wheat, rye is capable of surviving much colder climates.  However it […]

WHAT IS A CHAPATI? Also known as Indian flatbread, this recipe is made with unleavened dough that’s cooked on a skillet.  In Hindi the name translates as “slap flat” which is how the dough is formed.  The names chapati and roti are used interchangeably though purists would argue that rotis can be as thick as […]

WHAT IS SOURDOUGH BREAD? It is about as basic as bread can get.  The only ingredients are the starter (flour and water) along with salt and more flour!  The wild yeast here is all natural and already present as a bacteria in the wheat flour.  The same process that makes your yogurt deliciously sour also […]