Basler Brot facts for kids
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Region or state | Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft |
| Main ingredients | Pre-ferment, flour, salt, yeast, water |
Basler Brot (which means Bread of Basel in German) is a super popular type of bread from Switzerland. In the city of Basel, people sometimes call it Basler Laibli. This special bread first came from the areas around Basel, called Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. Now, you can find it and enjoy it all over Switzerland!
What makes Basler Brot so unique? It has a really soft and airy inside. Plus, its crust is wonderfully crunchy and often has a dusting of flour. This special mix of soft inside and crispy outside makes it different from many other Swiss breads.
Contents
The History of Basler Brot
We don't know exactly how old the recipe for Basler Brot is. The first time this bread was written about was in a magazine for bakers in 1944.
In the 1950s, a group called the Swiss Bakers Association helped make Basler Brot famous. They started a big campaign to share it with everyone. Soon, this delicious bread was available in almost every bakery across Switzerland!
How Basler Brot is Made
Making Basler Brot is a bit like a cool science experiment. It actually starts the day before the bread is baked!
The Special Starter Dough
First, bakers create something called a Hebel. This is a special starter dough, also known as a mother dough. They let this dough sit and ripen overnight. This long resting time is super important. It helps create the bread's amazing smell and unique taste.
Mixing the Dough
The next day, the Hebel starter is mixed with simple ingredients. These include flour, salt, yeast, and water. A lot of water is used in this recipe. In fact, water makes up over 80% of the dough's weight! This high amount of water is the secret to the bread's incredibly soft inside.
Shaping and Baking
After a quick and gentle kneading, the dough is shaped into rough pieces. These pieces are weighed and then placed on wooden boards. The boards are dusted with flour. The dough rests there for about half an hour.
The dough is only lightly rolled into an oval shape. Bakers handle it very gently. This gentle touch helps big holes (or pores) form inside the bread. These holes make the bread extra airy and light.
Finally, the bread is baked for at least 30 minutes. It bakes at a very hot temperature, up to 330 degrees Celsius (about 626 degrees Fahrenheit). Usually, two loaves are baked together, connected at their points. Bakers also use steam in the oven. This steam helps the crust from getting hard too quickly. This way, the crust doesn't crack while the bread is baking.
Where to Find Basler Brot
Basler Brot is a common food for many people in Switzerland. You can easily buy it in big stores like Migros and Coop all over the country.
It's also popular in areas close to Basel, even outside Switzerland! You might find it in Alsace, which is a region in France. You can also find it in the Lörrach area, which is in Germany.
