Best Baguette Recipes

TOASTED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/4-inch slices. You should have 20 to 25 slices. Place the slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet. Brush each slice with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake the toasts for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are crisp and browned. Serve at room temperature.

TRADITIONAL ARTISAN STYLE BAGUETTE - RUSTIC FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Place the yeast, honey and warm water in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt and the flour. Use a wooden spoon to stir 2 cups of the flour mixture into the yeast mixture; stir in the remaining flour mixture (dough will be stiff).
• Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead with floured hands until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes. Add a little flour, 1 tablespoon at a time as necessary, to prevent dough from sticking.
• Place in an oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap (or a clean kitchen towel) and leave to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
• Gently punch dough down to deflate it and shape into two oblong baguettes. Dust tops lightly with flour and place on a lightly greased baking sheet; let rise uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Use a serrated knife to cut 3-5 small diagonal slits across the tops of the baguettes, and lightly sprinkle with cool water.
• Bake in the middle of oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Best eaten the same day.

THAI BASIL CHICKEN SOUP WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM FILLED CREPES AND THAI BASIL BUTTER ON TOASTED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Place the chicken, mushrooms, celery, carrot, onion, lemongrass, Thai basil, ginger, Thai chile, lime peel, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a large pot. Cover with cold water, approximately 2 to 2 1/2 quarts. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer, uncovered. Skim the top, removing the impurities throughout the cooking process. Cook for 1 hour at a low simmer. Remove the chicken from the pot. Remove the leg meat, pull into pieces and reserve for soup garnishes. Remove the remaining chicken and reserve for personal use. Strain the stock into a clean pot.
• For the Thai basil chicken soup garnishes: Bring the stock to a boil. Add the chile, if using, sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice. Season the mixture with salt. Add the pulled chicken meat, tomato, and cucumber. Serve the soup, piping hot, garnish with green onion, sesame oil, lime, and Thai basil.
• For the egg crepes: Place 2 tablespoons of melted butter in a bowl. Add the ginger, eggs, milk, sesame oil, and salt, and whisk well. Heat a nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Dab a paper towel in the remaining melted butter and coat the pan. Ladle a thin layer of crepe batter in the pan, coating the bottom evenly. Once the batter begins to bubble in the middle, flip the crepe and cook for 3 to 5 seconds on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan and lay on a dry kitchen towel. Repeat the process with the remaining crepe batter.
• For the crepe filling and assembly: Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Saute the shiitake mushroom caps over the medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Season the mushrooms with salt, and pepper, set aside.
• Place one crepe on the cutting board. Place 2 spears of asparagus lengthwise, on one end of the crepe. Place a single layer of shiitake mushrooms over the asparagus. Roll the crepe beginning at one end. Place another crepe on the cutting board and roll the finished crepe inside. Cut the crepe on a diagonal into 3 pieces.
• Place the Thai basil in a blender and pour the melted butter over. Pulse quickly until just incorporated, ensuring not to bruise the Thai basil. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, place in the freezer for 5 minutes. Remove the butter from the freezer and whisk the mixture until well incorporated, return the Thai basil butter to the freezer. Once the butter has solidified, approximately 5 minutes, whisk again.
• Transfer the butter to a container and place in the refrigerator or freezer. Spread the Thai basil butter over the toasted baguette pieces.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR, FETA, AND GRILLED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with 2 tablespoons salt, place in a colander, and let stand 30 minutes. Wipe off salt and moisture with paper towels.
• Mix olive oil, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Reserve 1 tablespoon oil mixture. Place vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat. Cook until reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in reserved oil mixture, and let cool.
• Preheat grill to medium; brush grill with vegetable oil. Brush eggplant slices generously with some remaining oil mixture. Grill eggplant, covered, until slightly charred and tender, about 4 minutes per side.
• Increase grill temperature to high. Brush baguette with remaining oil mixture, and grill until toasted, about 3 minutes. Cut baguette into pieces in various sizes.
• Place eggplant, baguette, and feta on a large platter. Drizzle eggplant and feta with some vinegar mixture, then sprinkle torn basil over top. Serve with remaining vinegar mixture.

KITTENCAL'S FRENCH BREAD/BAGUETTE (KITCHEN AID MIXER STAND MIXER

Steps:

• Attach the dough hook to heavy duty stand mixer.
• In a small cup or bowl mix 1 teaspoon sugar into 1 cup warm water until combined.
• Stir in 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast and mix gently.
• Cover the cup and allow to proof until foamy (about 8 minutes, if the yeast does not foam discard and make again).
• Place 5-1/2 cups flour in the stainless steel mixing bowl along with the salt, sugar and 5 tablespoons oil.
• After the yeast has proofed add to the bowl along with remaining 1 cup warm water.
• Start kneading process adding in more flour a tablespoon at a time as needed to create a soft smooth semi-sticky dough (kneading should take about 8 minutes).
• Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface; cover with a clean tea towel and let rest for 3 minutes (this is important, allow to sit for 3 minutes).
• Oil a large deep bowl.
• Gather up the dough and gently knead into a ball (the dough will come together easily after resting).
• Place the dough into the bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for about 1 hour or until doubled.
• Punch down the dough and remove to a lightly floured surface.
• Divide the dough evenly in half.
• Cover both pieces of dough and allow to rest for 5 minutes (this will make shaping the dough easier).
• Roll each dough into about a 9 x 12-inch rectangle, then roll up jelly-roll fashion starting at long edge.
• Seal edges and seam of each loaf.
• Grease a large jelly-roll pan then sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons cornmeal.
• Place the two long shaped loaves onto the pan seam-side down spacing apart.
• Using a razor blade or a small sharp knife slash each loaf 3 times diagonally.
• In a small cup whisk an egg white then brush over each loaf.
• Sprinkle the tops with about 2 teaspoons seasme seeds for each loaf.
• Cover with a clean tea towel and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

HAM AND BRIE BAGUETTE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Slice baguette horizontally, and spread both sides with mustard. Layer one side with ham and brie, and top with the other half of the loaf. Slice the baguette into three 6-inch sandwiches.

GRANDMA RE'S BAGUETTE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Place baguette slices into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Combine half-and-half, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Pour over bread slices, cover the baking pan, and store in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Uncover pan. Combine brown sugar, pecans, margarine, and corn syrup in a bowl and spoon over bread mixture, making sure to touch each slice.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, about 40 minutes.

CHEWY FRENCH BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar into the hot water in a 2-cup measure; add yeast and stir gently. Let dissolve until top is foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Stir gently, starting from the middle, until mixture is sticky. Knead by hand, adding more flour if needed, until dough is elastic and no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.
• Oil a large, clean bowl and place dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Fill a roasting pan with water and set on the lower rack of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
• Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape dough into 1 large loaf or 6 sandwich loaves, tapering the ends. Place loaves on the prepared baking sheet. Cut 3 or 4 diagonal slashes, about 1/4 to 1/2-inch, across the tops. Cover with a dry towel and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Uncover and bake in the center of the preheated oven until top is light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the loaves.

GRILLED CLAMS WITH LEMON-GINGER BUTTER AND GRILLED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (high heat). Using spatula, blend butter, minced shallot, minced fresh parsley, fresh lemon juice, minced fresh ginger, and finely grated lemon peel in small bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Thinly spread lemon-ginger butter on 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange clams in single layer in disposable aluminum pan. Place pan on grill, cover barbecue, and cook just until clams open, 8 to 10 minutes (discard any clams that do not open).
• Using slotted spoon, transfer grilled clams to 2 shallow bowls. Grill bread until slightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Add remaining lemon-ginger butter to juices in pan; stir on grill until melted. Pour juices from pan over clams. Serve with bread.

BAGUETTE GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Slice baguette's (or French Bread) into 1/2" slices. (Cut on the diagonal).
• Heat olive oil in small skillet or pan. (Don't get smoking hot or it will burn the garlic.).
• Add the finely minced garlic cloves and cook very quickly. Not over 20 or 30 seconds, watching closely so you don't burn. (I strained out the garlic but Ina Garten didn't when she made her garlic bread).
• Brush baguette slices with the olive oil and put on a baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake in oven for 8 - 12 minutes or just until they are lightly browned.
• To freeze: Prepare up to the point of brushing the bread with the garlic oil. Place on a baking sheet, put in freezer and freeze until firm. Remove from freezer, wrap well in plastic wrap and then foil. Label and return to freezer.
• To serve: Unwrap and place on baking sheet. Proceed with directions and bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes or until hot through.
• NOTE: I used the smaller portions given for my baguettes but you may need more if using a loaf of French Bread.

THE BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and the warm water in a small bowl and stir with a fork to dissolve the yeast. Let stand for 3 minutes. Combine the flours and salt in a large bowl. Pour the cool water and the yeast mixture over the flour, and mix with your fingers to form a shaggy mass. Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 4 minutes. It should be supple and resilient, but not too smooth at this point. Let the dough rest on the work surface for 20 minutes, covered with plastic wrap or a light towel. (This rest period is the autolyse.)
• Knead the dough for 6 to 8 minutes. Don't overknead it: The dough should be smooth, stretchy, and resilient. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn it in the bowl to coat with oil, and cover it with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature ( 75 to 77 degrees F) for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until nearly doubled in volume.
• Gently deflate the dough and fold it over itself in the bowl. Reshape it into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 1 1/4 hours or until it has nearly doubled again. Gently deflate the dough again, reshape into a round, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour. Place the dough on a very lightly floured surface and divide it into 3 equal pieces (about 10 ounces each). Gently stretch one piece into a rectangle, leaving some large bubbles in the dough. Fold the top third down and the bottom third up as if you were folding a business letter. Now form the loaf into a log by rolling the dough over from left to right and sealing the seam with the heel of your palm. Fold the dough over about 1/ 3 of the way each time, seal the length of the loaf, then repeat. You want to gently draw the skin tight over the surface of the baguette while leaving some air bubbles in the dough. Seal the seam, being careful not to tear the skin of the dough or deflate its airy structure. Set aside on the work surface to relax before elongating it, and repeat the shaping process with remaining pieces of dough.
• Now elongate each baguette, starting with the first one you shaped, by rolling it back and forth on the work surface. Begin with both hands over the center of the loaf and work them out to the ends until the loaf reaches the desired length. (Don't get carried away, or the baguettes won't fit in your oven!) Place the finished loaves on a peel or upside down baking sheet lined with parchment paper and generously sprinkled with cornmeal or on a baguette pan. Cover the loaves with well oiled plastic or a floured cloth and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes until the loaves are slightly plump but still not doubled in volume. The final rise is short, because you want the baguettes to be slightly under proofed; this will give them a better oven spring, resulting in loaves with a light, airy crumb and more flared cuts.
• Thirty minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Place a baking stone in the oven to preheat, and place an empty water pan directly under the stone. Use a very sharp razor blade or lame to make 3 to 5 slashes, depending on the length of your loaves, on the top of each baguette. The cuts should run from one end of the loaf to the other, rather than across it, and the blade should be held at a 30 degree angle to the loaf so that the cuts pop open in the oven. Be careful not to press down too hard, or you may deflate the loaves. Using a plant sprayer, mist the loaves.
• Gently slide the loaves onto the preheated stone, or place the baguette mold in the oven. Pour 1 cup of very hot water into the water pan and quickly close the oven door. After 1 minute, mist the loaves and oven walls 6 to 8 times and close the door. After 2 more minutes, spray the loaves and the oven walls again.
• Bake for 12 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake for 25 to 30 minutes longer until the loaves are golden brown and crisp. Move them to a rack to cool.
• Enjoy your baguettes still slightly warm with some soft, ripe French cheese and a glass of wine.
• Note: If cake flour is not available, you can use the same amount of unbleached allpurpose flour, but cake flour will give the baguette a lighter texture.

STUFFED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Slice baguette in half lengthwise.
• Hollow out leaving a shell ½" thick. Set aside.
• Cook spinach, drain and chop in processor; add cheese, basil, and milk; pulse till smooth. Spread on inside surface of bread. Combine ham, nuts, mustard and enough mayonnaise to moisten the mixture.
• Pack filling on the bottom half of bread mounding slightly.
• Put loaf back together.
• Envelop tightly in plastic and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Slice on the diagonal and serve.

BAGUETTE AND BUTTER PUDDING

Steps:

• NB The instructions are edited and the comments in brackets are mine.
• Grease the sides of a 1.5 litre shallow baking dish with some of the butter (I use a Le Creuset oval dish).
• Spread the bread slices with the remaining butter (I spread on both sides, sometimes using a little more butter than he suggests).
• Arrange the bread in the dish in overlapping layers, sprinkling the dried fruit in between.
• Beat the egg yolks, whole eggs and granulated sugar together until creamy.
• Beat in to the mixture the cream, milk and liquer.
• Pour the mixture over the bread.
• Press the bread slices down gently so they are completely submerged.
• Let stand for about 20 minutes so that the bread can soak up the custard mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350F (180C, Gas Mark 4).
• Put the dish in a roasting pan and pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the dish, to prevent the custard from overheating and curdling.
• Sprinkle with demerera sugar and bake for 45-50 minutes until golden.
• Warm the jam so that it is runny.
• Remove the pudding from the oven and dab it with the jam. Let it stand for 15 minutes before serving so it firms up. (I take it our of the bain marie but Gordon is unclear on that point).

TOASTED BAGUETTE SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Slice bread into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Place bread slices on baking stone or pan.
• Brush tops lightly with olive oil-if you do not have a pastry brush, you can pour some olive oil into a bowl and simply dip the slices in it.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until slices are lightly browned.

LEMON HERB CHICKEN BAGUETTE W/ ROASTED GARLIC AIOLI

Steps:

• 1. Start with the aioli it can be made up to three days in advance. Preheat ove to 300. Slice off top of garlic, cutting through the cloves. Place cut side up in a pie plate or small baking dish, Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until completely soft, 1 hour. Cool completely. Squeeze out cloves from papery skins and mash until smooth.
• 2. For aioli make sure all your ingredients are at room temp. Set a deep bowl on a damp dish cloth to prevent it from slipping as you whisk. Whisk egg yolks, dijon, vinegar, salt, and pepper together until thick and creamy.
• 3. Combine the oils in a measuring cup. Whisk the oil into the eggs a drop at a time until it begins to thicken. Add remaining oil in a thin steady stream until thick and glossy. Add roasted garlic. Taste, and adjust seasoning adding more vinegar, dijon, salt, or pepper to taste. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• 4. Slice chicken breast through the middle horizontally to cut in half. Toss chicken, lemon, garlic, oregano, oil, and pepper togther. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes or up to overnight. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Grill over medium hot coals until opaque, with no trace of pink, 3-5 minutes per side. For indoor cooking preheat broiler, broil chicken until opaque, 3-5 minutes per side. Cut each loaf of baguette into 4 equal-sized pieces. Split and toast on grill until just crisp, 1 minute. Fill baguette with tomatoes, salad greens, chicken, and aioli. Serve warm.

FRENCH BRIE AND HAM BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Slice baguette horizontally with a serrated bread knife. Spread preserves on both sides of bread. On bottom half of baguette, lay down overlapping slices of ham and top with slices of brie. Place top of baguette on sandwich. Cut into 1-inch pieces and secure with decorative sandwich picks.
• Optional: heat in a 400 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

RADISH BUTTER ON TOASTED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grate radishes on the large holes of a box grater; place on paper towels, and squeeze out excess liquid. Combine radishes and butter in a small bowl; mix well.
• Slice baguette in half lengthwise, and place in oven; toast until crisp and browned. Remove from oven, and cool slightly. Spread radish mixture on toasted baguette; season with salt and pepper. Slice each half into four pieces, and serve.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE BAGUETTE SLICES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cheese, parsley, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper; roll into a 3-in. log. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. , Spread over bread; top with tomato slices. Sprinkle with additional pepper if desired.

TOMATO BAGUETTE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute mushrooms and onions until tender. Add garlic and seasonings; cook and stir 1 minute. , Place baguette halves on a baking sheet, cut side up; sprinkle with half the cheese and 1/2 cup basil. Top with mushroom mixture, tomatoes and remaining cheese. , Bake until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining basil. Cut each half into 3 portions.

RIPPED BAGUETTE WITH GARLIC-PARSLEY BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until it softens but does not brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool. Then stir this garlic butter into the remaining butter in a small bowl. Stir in the parsley, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rip open the baguette lengthwise, so that it opens like a book but is not ripped entirely in half. Smear the inside of the baguette with the garlic butter. Wrap the baguette in aluminum foil and bake until heated through, 10 to 12 minutes.