Pan Cubano
Serves: 2
 
Ingredients
  • 5 to 6 cups/725g bread or all purpose flour
  • 2 packages/4½ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups/470ml hot water
  • sesame or poppy seeds, optional
Instructions
  1. Place 4 cups of the flour into a mixer bowl and add the yeast, salt and sugar.
  2. Using the dough hook, mix the flour well.
  3. Add the water and mix until a sticky dough is formed.
  4. Mix for 3 minutes.
  5. Slowly, start working in the rest of the flour, ½ cup at a time until the dough takes shape and is no longer sticky.
  6. You can knead the dough by hand or with the dough hook.
  7. Knead for about 8 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
  8. Place the dough in a greased bowl and keep in a warm place until doubled in size.
  9. It will take about 15-20 minutes.
  10. Punch down the dough and and turn it on the counter.
  11. Cut the dough in half.
  12. Shape each into a round or loaf shape.
  13. Slash the top of the bread with a knife.
  14. Brush the top with water and sprinkle seeds if using.
  15. Place the loves on a baking sheet and place in the middle rack of a COLD oven.
  16. Place a large pan of hot water on the rack below, and heat the oven to 400F/200C.
  17. Bake for about 50 minutes or until the loaves are deep golden brown.
  18. Thump the bottom crusts to test for doneness.
  19. If they sound hollow and hard, they are baked.
  20. Turn out the loaves on racks and allow to cool before slicing with a serrated knife.
  21. Since there is no fat, the bread is really only good for a day or two.
  22. It makes excellent toast when it's a couple days old and freezes well too.
Notes
If you want to make the dough the night before and bake in the morning, prepare the dough as instructed in the recipe but cut back on the yeast to 1½ teaspoons. Place in the greased bowl and store in the fridge till the morning. In the morning, divide in half and shape the loves and allow to rise for about 30-40 minutes. Follow the same instructions to bake.
Also, if you do happen to have the Wolf Convection Steam Oven, just place the loaves on to some parchment paper and then on the sheet pan that comes with the oven and place in the cold oven. Locate the Wolf Gourmet preset buttons and find the A11 mode for bread. Turn it on and let the oven do the rest.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 2076 Fat: 24g Saturated fat: 5g Unsaturated fat: 17g Carbohydrates: 388g Sugar: 62g Sodium: 10661mg Fiber: 24g Protein: 74g
Recipe by Coffee and Crumpets at https://www.coffeeandcrumpets.com/pan-cubano/