The Goodness of Beer
The above image is The Waitress by Edouard Manet
A little over a week ago I posted this recipe for Potato Bread with Beer...and also stated that it was not made with 100% whole wheat flour. Which is fine...it's still a very good recipe, but these days I prefer whole wheat. Anyhow I thought I'd re-post it with the below version that is all whole wheat, along with a soup recipe which contains beer as an ingredient. For more recipes that include beer as an ingredient, and if you'd like to read an article I wrote on the subject--including history and personal stories--click here.
Whole-Wheat
Potato Bread with Beer and Cheddar
Makes
two loaves
2 cups cooked and mashed potatoes, room temperature
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2
cup beer, room temperature
2 teaspoons instant yeast
_______________________
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup beer, room temperature
3/4
cup milk, room temperature
_______________________
2 eggs
1/4
cup honey
1/4
cup olive oil
3 teaspoons instant yeast
2 teaspoons kosher salt
_______________________
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces)
Place
two bowls side-by-side. In one bowl combine the mashed potato, 1 cup
of flour, ½ cup of beer, and two teaspoons of yeast; mix just until
combined and cover with plastic wrap. In the second bowl combine the
4 cups of whole wheat flour, 1 cup of beer, 3/4 cup milk; mix just
until combined and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the bowls to rest
for 20-30 minutes.
Combine
the contents of bowls in the bowl of an upright mixer that is fitted
with a dough hook. Also add the eggs, honey, olive oil, 3 teaspoons
of yeast, and two teaspoons of kosher salt (try not to let the yeast
and salt come into direct contact). Run the mixer first on low speed,
until it gathers the ingredients together, then on medium speed;
knead the dough for about 6 minutes. Add the cheese and knead the
dough for another 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly
oiled bowl or rising bucket, cover it and allow the dough to ferment
for 60 – 90 minutes. Then gently press the dough down and allow it
to ferment another 30 minutes.
Divide
the dough into two pieces, shape it into loaves, and place it in
lightly oiled loaf pans. Preheat an oven to 425F and allow the dough
to ferment and rise for about 45 – 60 minutes. Bake the dough for
about 30 minutes. When it is initially placed in the oven spritz the
oven with a little water, lacking a sprayer toss a few ice cubes on
the oven floor to create steam. Rotate the loaves after 15 minutes
and spray the oven again. The bread is done when it is golden brown
and sounds hollow when tapped with a finger. Remove it from the oven
and their pans and transfer it to a wire cooling rack or clean towel
which has been folded to double thickness. Allow the bread to cool 15
minutes before slicing.
Potato Bisque with Beer, Bacon, and Cheddar
Makes about 6 cups
3
tablespoons unsalted butter
3
slices bacon, diced
1
small onion, diced
1
medium carrot, diced
12
ounces beer
3
cups chicken broth
3
medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1
teaspoon kosher salt
1/2
teaspoon black pepper
1/2
cup cream
1
cup shredded cheddar cheese
Heat
the butter in a small soup pot over medium high heat. Add the bacon
and cook it until it begins to brown. Add the onion and carrot and
sauté for 5 minutes. Add the beer, 2 cups of the chicken broth, the
diced potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower
it to a simmer. Simmer the soup for about 30 minutes, or until the
potatoes are very soft. Then add the cream. Purée the soup in a food
processor. If the soup is too thick add the remaining stock to thin
it. Transfer the soup back to the soup pot over moderate heat. Stir
in the cheese. Check for seasoning. Serve hot or cold.
Comments