No Knead Baby Baguettes

In The Smallest Restaurant in Paris, Rachel Khoo shares a brilliantly straightforward way to make irresistibly moreish baguettes – no energetic kneading required, just time, patience and a hot oven…

Makes 8 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Chilling time: 12-18 hours | Cooking time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp instant yeast or 12 g
• fresh yeast
• 375 ml lukewarm water
• 500 g plain bread flour,
• plus extra for dusting the surface
• 10 g salt

EQUIPMENT

• 2 baking trays, ideally perforated
• Sharp knife or razor blade

Method

1. Dissolve the fresh yeast in a couple of tablespoons of warm (but not hot) water to make a paste. Skip this step if you’re using instant yeast.
2. Mix all the other dry ingredients and instant yeast, if using, in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle (skip this if using instant yeast) and add the yeast mixture followed by the water. Mix until you have a sticky dough. Cover and leave to rest in the fridge overnight or for 12 hours.
3. After resting, remove from the fridge and leave at room temperature for one hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 275°C fan/525°F. Place a heatproof container filled with water and a fabric napkin or tea towel submerged in the water into the bottom of the oven.
5. Dust the work surface with flour. Tip the dough onto the floured surface and stretch into a rectangle. Cut into 8 equal sized rectangular pieces.
6. Take one piece and make a row of fingerprints in the middle. Fold the top into the middle and press and spin 180 degrees and fold the top into the middle and press. Seal the edges together and rolling together. Put your fingers on the edges. Pull and roll at the same time to get a pointy ends.
7. Place onto the baking tray and leave to prove for 30 minutes.
8. Dust the baguettes with a little flour and use a sharp knife or razor blade to make a slit on the top.
9. Take a cup of water and throw into the bottom of the oven. Quickly put the trays of baguettes into the oven well spaced. Bake at 275°C fan/525°F for 10 minutes and then 250°C fan/480°F for 10 minutes. Rotate if necessary.