EASY ENGLISH MUFFINS

Easy English Muffins image

This English muffin was inspired by one served at the Model Bakery, in Napa, CA. Theirs are fried in clarified butter. I didn't actually use their recipe, since I wanted to experiment with a simpler, faster method; but if it makes you feel any better, I did cook them in clarified butter.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes English Muffin Recipes

Time 3h34m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

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Ingredients

1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus more for rolling
¾ cup warm water, divided
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg white
2 tablespoons cornmeal, or as needed
¼ cup clarified butter (ghee)

Steps:

Place 1/4 cup flour, yeast, and 1/2 cup water in a mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside for about 10 minutes to see if thin layer of foam develops to ensure yeast is active. Drizzle in vegetable oil; add salt, egg white, remaining 1 3/4 cup flour, and remaining 1/4 cup warm water. Mix together until dough is very wet and sticky. Cover. Set in a warm spot and let rise until doubled, about 2 hours.
Pull dough gently from sides of bowl, stirring slightly, and turn out onto a well-floured rolling surface. Work in just enough flour until dough is easily handled and can be cut into 6 pieces, about 1 minute. Cut dough into 6 equal portions. Form a seamless ball of dough, adding a pinch of flour to keep it from sticking. Flatten to make thick disks. Transfer dough onto a lined baking sheet sprinkled generously with cornmeal. Let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Add clarified butter to skillet over medium heat. Carefully transfer muffin disks to skillet. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Brown on one side, 5 or 6 minutes. Turn, and brown the other side, 5 or 6 minutes. Continue turning to get muffins evenly browned and cooked through, 7 or 8 minutes total per side. Transfer to a cooking rack and cool completely (this is key as you can't split the muffins unless they are cooled).
Split cooled muffins with a fork, inserting tines all the way around edges so the 2 sides can be pulled apart. Toast and serve with jam.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.2 calories, Carbohydrate 34.5 g, Cholesterol 21.9 mg, Fat 10.5 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 5.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 331.8 mg, Sugar 0.2 g