Biga
Transform your homemade bread with this easy, 3-ingredient biga—a traditional Italian pre-ferment that adds incredible flavor, texture, and aroma to your loaves. Made with just all-purpose flour, water, and a pinch of instant yeast, this overnight starter develops a rich, slightly tangy complexity as it ferments for 12 to 16 hours. The process is wonderfully simple: mix, rest, and watch as it bubbles and comes to life, signaling it's ready to elevate everything from crusty artisan breads to soft rolls. Perfect for bread enthusiasts seeking bakery-quality results, biga is the secret to achieving that airy crumb and golden, chewy crust in your baking. Give your dough the head start it deserves!
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Ingredients
- 150 grams All-purpose flour
- 90 milliliters Water
- 0.5 grams Instant yeast
Directions
Step 1
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, water, and instant yeast.
Step 2
Stir the mixture with a spoon or your hands until a sticky, shaggy dough forms. It does not need to be smooth; just make sure there are no dry pockets of flour.
Step 3
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out.
Step 4
Let the biga rest at room temperature (around 20-22°C or 68-72°F) for 12 to 16 hours. It should bubble and roughly double in size during this time.
Step 5
Once ready, the biga will have a slightly tangy smell, a moist texture, and a lively appearance, indicating that it is fermented and ready to use in your bread recipe.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (241.8g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 547.5 |
| Total Fat 1.5g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0.2g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 5.3mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 114.7g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 4.2g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 0.3g | |
| Protein 15.7g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 26.1mg | 0% |
| Iron 7.0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 166.4mg | 0% |
Source of Calories