Garlic Butter Glazed Talami Bread Recipe

A stand mixer is absolutely necessary for this dough, which is nearly batter-like in its hydration level (I'm sorry!). The result is a tall, airy, soft loaf that is total glory! This talami is perfect on its own, slathered with salty butter, and extra-great served with a bowl of smooth, creamy hummus.

RECIPE BY: MAUREEN ABOOD

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE BREAD:
1 packet or 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups warm water (105-110°F), divided
4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or safflower

FOR THE GLAZE:
2 tablespoons salted butter, very soft
1 clove garlic, green sprout removed, grated or minced
Big pinch kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, sugar, and ¼ cup of the water. Set it aside until it is creamy and starting to bubble a bit, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt.

3. Add 1 cup of the water and 2 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir by hand with the paddle attachment to combine.

4. Attach the paddle and on low speed, add the remaining 2 cups flour and 1 cup water. Once the mixture is combined, increase the speed and beat on medium-high until the dough is smooth and batter-like and climbing all the way up the paddle, about 5 minutes. Stay nearby so the mixer doesn't bounce off the counter!

5. Coat a medium sized bowl with a teaspoon of canola oil, and also coat a rubber spatula or rubber bench scraper. Use the coated scraper to scrape the dough from the paddle and the bowl and transfer the dough to the coated bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (not against the dough), and cover that with a clean kitchen towel. Set it aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, 90 minutes to 2 hours.

6. Gently deflate the risen dough by gently scraping it down the sides of the bowl with the oiled spatula or bench scraper, folding it over on itself a few times. Cover the bowl again with the plastic and towel and set it aside in a warm place to rise again for 30 minutes while the oven and pan heat up.

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7. Meanwhile, line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch quarter sheet pan with nonstick foil (this nonstick foil is key). Place in the oven on the middle shelf and heat to 500°F for 30 minutes.

8. When the dough is risen, remove the sheet pan from the oven and coat it with the remaining neutral oil. Use the oiled scraper or rubber spatula to scrape the dough from the bowl as you pour it into the hot sheet pan. Start at one short end of the sheet pan and fill it with the dough as you move the bowl along with the dough to the other end of the pan. Use your oiled fingers or the bench scraper to very gently push the dough into the corners of the pan. It won’t be perfect, and that’s fine. Less touching is better. Brush some of the oil taken from the corners of the pan (the dough pools the oil a touch in the corners) over the top of the dough.

9. Reduce the oven temperature to 425°F., or 400°F convection. Bake the bread until it is deep golden brown, about 20 minutes or so.

10 While the bread bakes, make the garlic butter glaze by stirring the garlic into the softened butter with a big pinch of kosher salt.

11. When the bread is done, set the hot pan on a rack. Glaze the top by generously coating it with the garlic butter using a small knife or spatula. When it’s cool enough to handle, remove the bread from the pan and cool on a rack until it is nearly room-temperature before slicing into pieces to serve.