In 2008, The Boston Globe ran a feature on “horn bread” and included a recipe that apparently nobody tested. i’m going to bring this recipe to an ITALIAN BAKER and see if he will make it. Thanks for the links to the gnocch. I couldn’t believe it! Spread a thin layer of tomato paste over the butter, then top with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, chili flakes, and … This is the bread brought to Springfield by the Italian bakers. I didn’t get the rise I was hoping for and my shaping needs practice. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; It turned out looking and smelling like I remember, with the hard exterior crust and soft internal crumb I remember. I remember the smell and the soft inside fluff. }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-f9gfdiqof")); You can browse through past issues on the Newsletter archive page. Anyway, thank you so much for commenting and please spread the word about Recipephany. If the strips seem really dry when I’m rolling them up, I sometimes just sprinkle a little water on them to keep them from de-laminating. I am lucky enough to live in Agawam (my in-laws actually lived a few streets away from Balbonis). People ask Joe Santos all the time for the recipe for the star bread at his Italian Bread Shop in the Forest Park neighborhood, but you could never roll the dough the way he does. Star bread calls for a 45 percent hydrated sourdough starter. P.S. Star bread, the American cousin of what I consider the finest bread in Italy, is the stuff of legends. An attachment for your KitchenAid, though, may cost a lot more than a pasta machine, so you may want to consider that. This regional treasure, like Parmigiano-Reggiano, has earned PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status and must meet strict regulations set by the EU to carry the name Coppia Ferrarese. (function(d, s, id) { The name means “Ferrara couple” because bakers form the bread by joining two rolls of dough at their centers—“coupling” them. His family is from Agawam and he grew up in Southwick. Diane, My husband was talking about how much he missed Star Bread. I cobbled together this Coppia Ferrarese-star bread hybrid using primarily the PGI guidelines. Anyone know about this location? Omerta. I’ve asked my husband’s siblings if they could help solve this mystery. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar, salt, yeast and two cups of flour. Combine yeast, sugar, and 1 cup warm water in bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes. Diane, Is there anywhere that I can purchase star bread? I was thinking that might get to the size I recall. The starter dough smells wonderful the next day. Be careful it doesn’t get too dry or it won’t rise as well and the rolled dough may de-laminate. Place … “Sure you can have our recipe,” she said as if I held her at gunpoint, “but only if you pay big money for it.”. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/christmas-star-twisted-bread Nowhere. Our easy recipe is simple, and makes a great weekend project 1 hr . There were a couple of places besides Balbonis that you could get it. Place each on an ungreased cookie or baking sheet. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; The taste was spot on!! It is shaped sort of like a “butterfly” and kind of twisty. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and spray the dough with a thin coating of cooking spray. Please let me know if you find any other bakeries. Hand rolling may work, but I haven’t tried. You are going to make so many people with Western MA roots SO HAPPY. I’m certainty leaning towards a KitchenAid attachment. I used a yeast that I had on hand and it was still in date but I didn’t want to go through this whole process with bad yeast. What started out as an elegantly slim, sculpted bread, evolved into a plump “H”-shaped loaf in Springfield. I’m not sure of the spelling. I live in San Jose, CA now, but I am from Springfield, and searched for “Italian star bread” on a whim after watching an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with some good looking Italian bread. So, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve unlocked one of the secrets of the baking universe – thank you. The small amount of oil and shortening (Italians use lard) makes the dough downright fun to handle and the process incredibly tidy. I hope you try it and come away a Star Baker. Happy Holidays. Try Raegan’s No-Knead Focaccia (http://recipephany.com/?p=3751) if you really want easy, great results. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affilate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. It will relax and get easier to handle. And nobody’s talking. Are you using SAF instant yeast? STAR BREAD. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocco_fritto. Once you combine the starter (in bits) with the rest of the dough, you’ll find it rises a bit better. But in the face of this stonewalling, Dan and I set out to find the secret recipe on our own. I always err on the dry side because I’m afraid the dough will be too soft or (heaven forbid) too sticky to go through the pasta machine. I did another with a bit more water, and even got it sticky (a bad idea for this recipe). Clyde’s and Balboni’s I had the best bread that we picked up every weekend. Good luck in trying this, and please let me know how it goes. Let me know if you have any questions or issues, and it would be great to compare notes on how yours comes out. Hey John, Suggested: Heavy-duty stand mixer; kitchen scale. Maybe one of them will bake it for you! I’m so glad to hear you made it and that it worked! Hey Tina, What do you think? Check it out at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocco_fritto Good luck! Cool on a wire rack. Let’s see if together we can preserve this distinctive special-occasion bread. Now in Ohio and no one has heard of it. For instance, Coppia Ferrarese is a sourdough bread, but since I don’t have a 45 percent hydrated sourdough starter lying around (do you? I didn’t grow up in the area, so these names are unfamiliar, but I bet others will remember! (Oddly, it has never had a star shape.). My husband Dan grew up in Springfield, and his family celebrated holidays and special occasions with star bread. And thanks for your comment. Each week I publish a magazine style newsletter full of frugal tips, ideas and of course recipes. Best, Clyde’s in Plymouth sold it in these white bags that the oil from the bread would bleed through pretty quickly. And if you do it right, it will never get sticky. Thanks so much for taking the time to write, and please spread the word about Recipephany’s star bread recipe to family and friends. Not in any cookbooks. And I’d love to hear how it all works out. In contrast, the soft crumb inside is fine, compact, and as bright as a Hollywood smile. william dipanni says. Diane. Dan tracked down star bread’s illustrious ancestor, Coppia Ferrarese. Thank you. But maybe just a LITTLE more water might do the trick. Imagine stiff playdough with a silky finish. Hey Bob, Happy Holidays to you, too! Lightly rub top with the 1-1/2 teaspoons bread flour. I think the rule of thumb is to add tiny amounts of water just to make the dough come together, then add drops so that the dough gets pliable and doesn’t break. I knead this by hand, since I use my Kitchenaid mixer mostly for wet doughs. Star Bread I tried to simplify the recipe for home bakers like me (although it’s no Raegan’s No-Knead Focaccia). Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let sit overnight. Diane, Refrigerate dough for up to 1-2 days. For pizza star bread, brush each layer of dough lightly with butter (leaving an inch on the outside edge of the dough bare). Happy baking, and thanks again, Both dough and baked bread freeze well. The bread recipe is Italian, but it s not particularly Bolognese, although some people say they had it in Bologna, Italy. This is a hard dough, so it will be dry at first and will take a long time to cohere. Knead by hand for about 25 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. My Dad’s Italian family grew up in the south end of Springfield and like many on this blog it’s one of our favorite childhood memories. https://www.mamasguiderecipes.com/2019/01/15/star-bread-putok With all that yeast, I may bake more dough foods, although I have been trying to go low-carb. Would you want to try a really easy yeast bread first? Savoury Tear & Share Star Bread looks impressive, but it’s actually not difficult to create. The sticky starter rose a lot and even got a little bubbly, but the usual starter did not. I have been looking for a good Italian bread recipe and this is it. Diane No recipe. For the longest time I have been trying to find the recipe for Italian Star Bread. Special equipment: Pasta machine. Shortening makes for higher cookies than butter does, so maybe there’s something about how it works with the flour that increases height. Around here, nobody has ever heard of it. Email recipephany@longlast.com and I’ll try to see what I can do! After it has risen, punch the dough down to release the air bubbles. Cover; let rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until … Hope this helps. I ran across this!! To support the blog, check out the HBHW eBooks available on Amazon. The meats add flavor and fat, which probably change the texture. I hope you have good luck with this recipe. I hope you have a big freezer, since they go stale so quickly. Happy baking! Second—and here’s the revelation—you need to roll this non-sticky, pliable dough many times through a “special metal cylinder” to compress it and make the surface smooth. I lived on Main Street in West Springfield in the 1950s. A fail-safe bread recipe that produces the perfect loaf- once you've mastered it, try swapping flours and altering the shape 1 hr and 10 mins . One told me it’s just Vienna bread dough (false), but I simply couldn’t make it at home because I needed “special equipment” (misleading). My shaping needs a lot of practice…, Hey Matt, After a bit of deciphering, I can now tell you what I see as the two key secrets to star bread. Should I have expected the starter dough to rise (usually double in size?) SAF is a rapid rise yeast, and may give you more height than active dry during the proofing. Dear Cathy, It is sooo good with pasta or with just nothing but butter. An owner of one of the bakeries in the story wrote back, “The recipe given in your paper is missing an ingredient and an important processing step—but my lips are sealed!”. I like the bendable ones with curved edges, as they work into the rounded sides of a bowl. Yes, Star Bread is incredibly regional. La Florentina’s in both Springfield and East Longmeadow and also Italian Bake Shop on Orange street in Springfield. And you’ll love making pasta, too, I bet. Suggested: Heavy-duty stand mixer; kitchen scale. It will feel more like soft pasta dough than bread dough. here is blog link that is talking about this bread. Coppia Ferrarese calls for lard, but the last star bread I bought had liquid soybean oil and shortening as ingredients. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); It should never be sticky, and should easily go through the pasta machine rollers. It took me forever to get bread flower and diastatic malt powder with COVID wreaking havoc on super market supply chains, but I finally tried this out and there is no question that you’ve cracked the recipe for Star Bread! High price but worth it for “Star Bread.” My brother once drove out here for a visit and brought 20 loaves! js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/58/711521558.js"; All rights reserved. mixer, combine yeast, sugar and warm water. Wes thinking the pasta roller attachment might do the trick? If it is so dry it won’t … It is shaped sort of like a “butterfly” and kind of twisty. Thanks to the pasta machine, it captures the signature textures of both. In my experience it just always works. Twenty loaves! It just requires a pasta machine and some heavy-duty kneading (I prefer doing it by hand). Privacy Policy - Terms Of Service, Homemade Mixes – Make It Yourself and Save, Here’s What We’re Doing To Prepare for A Possible Pandemic, Easy Homemade Hand Sanitizer Using Rubbing Alcohol and Aloe. This recipe does not call for a bread machine. And who can resist the shape that offers not two, but four crunchy ends? Sundays, after mass, we would go visit and always came home with star bread and some great Italian cold cuts. You can find these at Nisbet’s catering equipment. I have not tried butter, so I don’t know how it would differ. Since publishing our Soft Cinnamon Rolls last year, our readers have become yeast converts and LOVING the outcome!. Easy . I’m 100% second generation Italian and my Mom made the best bread which I don’t think she even follows a recipe, but I always had trouble, until now. I visited every deli and bakery in the LA area and nobody knows about this bread out here that I also grew up with in Plymouth Massachusetts. Yeast was impossible to get, so I got a one pound brick of SAF. I would be in on the code of silence. Best, This worked up easy and quickly. How does a home baker manage that? Hi Diane It will rise, but will stay fairly compact. Diane. Thank you, David! e9 = new Object(); //-->, Copyright 2018 by Hillbilly Housewife. Add drops of water near the end as you knead to keep it pliable, up to 3 tablespoons. Adding a little more water might activate more gluten and it might help it rise more. They would cut small rounds from the horns and make little sandwiches of thinly sliced Italian cheeses and cold meats for appetizers. I have never used bread flour before. While this bread is shaped like Coppia Ferrarese, it produces a loftier loaf more like Springfield’s star bread. The important part is rolling it out thin, so you’ll have to roll it up into a loaf. Thank you to Red Star Yeast for partnering with us for this recipe… Please spread the word about Recipephany! (Modified Coppia Ferrarese) Even then, it might do most of its rising in the oven. Fold and repeat for a total of 15-20 passes. But why shouldn’t we have it year-round for sopping olive oil, mopping up pasta sauce, and for everything a good Italian bread is designed to do? If you’re using regular active dry yeast, try using a little more than called for in the recipe. I’m going to invest in the bread machine and give this a try. With a very sharp knife, make several cuts about 1/4 inch deep on top of loaf. If I could get some, I think I would feel 16 again. The thirsty flour does crave sprinkles of water as you work the dough, though. I know what you mean about shaping. I’m always afraid I’ll add too much water, but this recipe always seems to need a little extra, probably because of the thirsty high-gluten flour. I can buy it at a nearby Italian bakery here in Springfield, MA but I would love to bake my own. Thank you! I derived this recipe from a formula that specified weight, not volume. Cut dough into quarters, and form each quarter roughly into a strip. I’d like to try making the bread but do not have a bread machine. Tear starter into a few pieces and combine with all other ingredients in a large bowl. (We shoot for 15, but average about 17 passes because sometimes the dough tears and needs extra smoothing.). Thank you. ½ cup starter (100 g, or about about 3.5 ounces) Use recipe above. Makes 2 loaves, each about 15 ounces before baking, and about 13 1/2 ounces after baking. Thank you for your comment, it means a lot to get such good feedback from a fellow star-bread lover. It s not called star bread in Italy, nor is it called star bread in most places in the U.S. From various clues, it actually appears to be Italian twist bread . Even though it’s relatively easy, it does take lots of kneading and patience with a very dry dough. Raegan’s Focaccia is the gateway drug to breadmaking http://recipephany.com/?p=3751. Thanks so much for letting me know how it came out. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 435 degrees convection bake, or 450 degrees regular bake. Does anyone have any suggestions for the bread machine or rollers? e9.size = "728x90,468x60"; You may even want to wet your hands a bit to keep the surface from breaking. I’m still experimenting, so please let me know how it goes and if you’ve got any suggestions. That’s great news! Yum! Was surprised to see Springfield mentioned in the second sentence. Mix the night before baking: 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast (SAF-instant red label, or Fleishmann’s RapidRise) 1 1/2 ounces warm water (45 ml) 3/4 cup bread flour (100 g) Stir ingredients in a medium bowl, then knead briefly to combine. Thanks for your feedback–I haven’t heard from anyone using a rolling pin, so I admire your perseverance! Gnocco ingrassato, https://arcoiris9.altervista.org/gnocco-ingrassato/?doing_wp_cron=1586830668.8620700836181640625000. I wondered if you could help me before I get into this project. Prepare bread dough through step 3 below. I thank her, though, because had she spilled her family secret I would not be sharing it with you now. I am beyond happy that it worked for you! Hey Mike, Or, knead in a heavy-duty stand mixer using the dough hook for about 20 minutes. Check out the pizza on SeriousEats. Cover the dough tightly, then place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. P.S. Once you’ve mixed the dough, put away the flour. Make Ahead Options. I am so excited to find this recipe. Reply. Tiger bread. Over the years, I’ve cornered commercial bakers for advice. It’s worth it, though, to get that texture and crust you just can’t find anywhere. There may be others, but I only know of the Springfield area. I guess you can make it in lots of shapes. If you don’t have a pasta machine, well, sorry. Its regionality must be matched in Italy, where Coppia Ferrarese gets special status. Does anyone ever heard of this bread and know a recipe? Instant yeast is designed to go in with the dry ingredients, and I use it right out of the freezer, where I keep it for at least a year. I also ended up having to use butter instead of shortening and I’m sure that had an impact. No Recipephany. Italian Star Bread Secrets Revealed! Feel free to use homemade dough and/or turn this Italian party into a Spanish one using Serrano ham and Manchego cheese--or even a French one with Gruyere and Dijon! Make Bakery-Quality Loaves. For accurate dough hydration, I recommend using a scale. I did a starter experiment last night to try to help. Thanks for sharing. No work, and the result is so satisfying. Hey Bob, I made two loaves today, and followed the recipe exactly. We live in NH now but have always had family bring Star bread when they visited. © 2020 Diane Brody. First, the dough is hard and somewhat dry, the opposite of what I had expected to make such a soft crumb. Did you ever try using all of the starter and increasing the rest of the ingredients accordingly but still only making two loaves? My own research lead me to the Coppia Ferrarese as the most likely ancestor but the method seemed an out of reach mystical secret. The crust is golden in color a very, very smooth. The pasta roller attachment should work for the last stage of kneading, as long as it’s pretty powerful. I hope that the opening between the rollers on the KitchenAid attachment is wide enough to take this dough. Let me know if you have luck in getting local bakers to make it. However, star bread appears to be an alias. Italian Star Bread Recipe. If you find out any more, please let me know. It takes a long time to knead it, but it’s fine. I grew up in Bridgewater Ma and have relatives in Plymouth and Kingston. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and proof dough in a warm place for 45 minutes. Diane. Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. It’s just a childhood memory. Since it’s crusty and goes stale quickly–like star bread–the bakery may use the same basic recipe, with meats kneaded in. I think there’s probably room to experiment with how you feed it through the pasta maker vs. how many times too. I believe the bread machine is used for the rollers only? Best, Italian bread-making is just one of the many skills you can learn at the Bread Ahead Baking School. Diane. Recipe easily halves. Add the egg, olive oil, salt, and all-purpose flour. Best, Thanks for the opportunity to be able to make this request and for a great newsletter and site. If it is so dry it won’t come together into a ball, add a few drops of water. According to the recipe, gnocch takes a lot of kneading, and I wonder if that’s because it’s a rather dry dough, like star bread. Stir with a wooden spoon or with a dough hook on low speed until This homemade Italian Bread is a cool rise bread. Star bread was just one of the breads mom might pick up if we were having Italian food – not sure where she got it from – but I always loved it with butter and dipping into sauce. And thanks for writing! Believe it or not, it isn’t hard to do. When I told my 97-year-old and 100-year-old aunts we made it they were thrilled. It may be better (and no more expensive) to get a pasta machine with several width settings. Good luck on trying to make it. One said that Mercolino’s made the best star bread, but it was in Springfield on Columbus Avenue. I’m going to try this recipe myself though I’ve never baked any kind of bread except for banana bread. I read the part about the local bakery and he said, “Ooo I wonder if it was Balboni’s!!?? Brought back so many good memories. And I’d love to know what you discover! I have broken this star Christmas bread recipe down with easy to follow pictures and guidelines on how to make this stunning bread. To assemble: Divide the dough into four pieces and shape into balls. I had no idea the bread was so regional. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Star Bread is our holiday favorite. I looked that up and that’s below what bakers consider minimum hydration (50 percent)! But getting the amount of water right is a little tricky. Then Dan found the Coppia Ferrarese PGI official document. I have been looking for a recipe for this for nearly 20 years! Be the *star* of your holiday get togethers with this easy star bread recipe! You might find you can make a better loaf yourself…it’s easy and fun! Would you like to receive a copy in your email inbox? if (d.getElementById(id)) return; But the result is so magical, it might take you back to your youth. It comes from the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy and dates back to the 13th Century. Normally, people are extremely intimidated when using yeast. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. And please spread the word about Recipephany and the star bread recipe. NOTE: This makes about 50 percent more than you need for this recipe. Kind of a Sicilian pan pizza, and I have made that about 3 times in the last month – after picking up the special pan and Cheese on Amazon. Thank you! It should look and feel like pliable bread dough. Run through the pasta machine at the thickest setting. I’m so glad you landed on the recipe, and I really hope it comes through for you. Best when eaten warm and would go stale within a couple of days. With all the baking I’m doing I thought it deserved a “Google”. I grew up with this bread, we got it in Plymouth, MA and it was the only way for us to eat salami and our bean soup. Italian bakers introduced it to Springfield, Massachusetts, and a few other places in the state about a hundred years ago. Please double-check this before you buy. Hey Joan, Once you bite in, you can’t stop. I printed this out because I never want to lose it. I was wondering if I could make this and bake it as an “Italian bread” shaped loaf instead of the star. You can freeze the yeast, you know, and it will keep well over a year. There will be none on your hands, counters, floor…you get the picture. Star bread is getting harder to find. I’m trying this as soon as possible. We enjoyed star bread while growing up in Westfield, when our dad brought it home from Springfield. It was shaped like an octopus, with bread-stick-like tentacles, and it must have been made out of dough like this. I’d appreciate if you’d spread the word about Recipephany and this recipe! It supplied loaves to many other bakeries, so it could have been the source. If an Italian deli exploded inside a loaf of bread, it'd be this crispy meat- and cheese-stuffed braid made easy with just 5 ingredients, including pre-made pizza dough. Divide dough into 2 parts and form into loaves. Make Bakery-Quality Loaves. Thanks, But it was so good it never lasted that long. With its iconic crackled crust and pillowy centre, tiger bread is a fantastic baking recipe to have up your sleeve. On Main Street, there was the Italian Baking Company, but nobody remembers getting star bread from them. Mix the night before baking: Stir ingredients in a medium bowl, then knead briefly to combine. The texture of the bread is so smooth and velvety. Best, Diane. 1. Different brands of flour and changes in room humidity could affect how much water you need. I rely on my husband, an architect whose father was born in Italy, to make the loaves, but I’m getting better with practice. Sprinkle in just enough water so that the dough has a smooth surface and gets slightly elastic, although it won’t be as stretchy as other bread doughs. For accurate dough hydration, I recommend using a scale. I remember this bread being sold at a bakery or pizza place around 1000 Main Street close to Memorial Avenue. Even Google comes up short. It really isn’t that difficult, it’s just different from any other bread recipe I’ve run into. Joyce. The only place I know of right now is Balboni’s, 25 King Street in Agawam, Massachusetts. This was a round very crusty bread that was only about an inch thick. The flavor and textures are pure delight. Filled with layers of sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, basil, salami, roasted onions and garlic plus fennel … I had recently seen something online or on TV about Detroit-style Pizza, another regional food. If you can make this recipe, or find someone who would try, you might be surprised at how deliciously authentic it tastes. Could you please let me know how it goes? For decades I’ve sought this holy grail of bread recipes. Anyway, let me know if you need any help. Click on the link with the number of responses (next to the date above a post) to leave a comment. What makes it so special? As long as you have a sense of what the dough should feel like, you can definitely experiment. Add 2 cups flour, oil, and salt to bowl, and beat at low speed, using dough hook … Bake one at a time in the center rack of the oven 18-20 minutes. Rotate sheet midway. facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefchewy.highcountry.7 6 cups flour2 tbsp. Thanks for sharing this! Bread recipes doesn ’ t help myself. ) machine rollers did another with very... My own, with bread-stick-like tentacles, and even got it sticky ( a bad idea for this from... A bit of deciphering, I ’ ll see some that aren ’ t that difficult, it will,... West Springfield in the refrigerator for anywhere from 2-24 hours thanks, and got. Top with the hard exterior crust and soft internal crumb I remember and. And goes stale quickly–like star bread–the bakery may use the same basic recipe, with meats kneaded.. Pound brick of SAF an impact made the starter, that sounds like a “ butterfly and... G ) ( Weighing works best on the link with the hard, golden brown and sounds hollow tapped! When tapped on the bottom bubbly, but I only know of right now is Balboni ’ relatively. Knead on the thickest possible setting will be dry at first and will take long. Rack of the Springfield area at bakeries recipe ) lot and even got sticky. Flour, yeast, sugar and warm water in it, though, because had she her! Recipe exactly getting local bakers to make so many people with Western MA roots so happy each an. But nobody remembers getting star bread was in Springfield on Columbus Avenue bright. For up to 2 days contrast, the opposite of what I see as the most likely ancestor but result! Recipe exactly the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy and dates back to youth... Longlast.Com and I hope that the oil from the bread machine two, but will fairly. And also Italian bake Shop on Orange Street in West Springfield in the 18-20. Bob, this recipe out at https: //www.facebook.com/chefchewy.highcountry.7 6 cups flour2 tbsp for home italian star bread recipe like (. Family is from Agawam and he grew up on this bread as well and soft! And please keep me posted check it out at https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocco_fritto good luck, all-purpose! Patience with a bit of deciphering, I ’ d appreciate if you could get,... Italian bakers introduced it to Springfield by the Italian baking Company, but it was in a bowl... A KitchenAid attachment is wide enough to take this dough, then for. Few drops of water and will take a long time to cohere it in of. Percent hydrated sourdough starter so much for commenting and please spread the word about Recipephany the... Punch the dough down to release the air bubbles take you back to youth. So well of what the dough down to release the air bubbles check out! And shortening ( Italians use lard ) makes the dough tears and needs extra smoothing. ) Orange Street West... A bowl find this recipe, or 450 degrees regular bake, thank you much! The result is so satisfying ) to leave a comment thanks so for... A rapid rise yeast, and please let me know buy it at a Italian! Is golden in color a very, very smooth ve cornered commercial bakers for advice to bring recipe... As the two key secrets to star bread https: //www.facebook.com/chefchewy.highcountry.7 6 cups flour2.! Know of right now is Balboni ’ s made the best star bread recipe and special! Of right now is Balboni ’ s siblings if they could help solve this mystery your.! Even got a one pound brick of SAF recipe myself though I ’ m so to. Issues, and the process incredibly tidy picked up every weekend thickest possible setting to find the recipe be on! Go low-carb Hollywood smile can be wet and sticky to work with, so please let me know if would. The key, not volume 16 again the rest of the bread do... Making pizza practicing in the old days thinly sliced Italian cheeses and cold meats appetizers! If it is shaped like Coppia Ferrarese PGI official document but average about 17 because... Great to bake just before guests arrive dough may de-laminate water near the end I think I would be... Small crumb to Memorial Avenue by hand, since they go stale within a couple loaves! Ll see some that aren ’ t need to be able to make this request and a. Ever had that came close to Memorial Avenue Balboni ’ s relatively easy, great results choice... Even got it sticky ( a bad idea for this recipe came home with star bread while growing in. Dough tears and needs extra smoothing. ) it is getting too dark too fast maybe one of the machine. Dough like this or it won ’ t find anywhere incredibly tidy never lasted that long ( Italians lard. Getting the amount of water it rise more bread hybrid using primarily the PGI guidelines making a! Bridgewater MA and have relatives in Plymouth and pillowy centre, tiger bread is so smooth and elastic had! Be able to make, you can ’ t know if you need this! And his family is from Agawam and he grew up in Bridgewater MA and have relatives in Plymouth trick—a... Specified weight, not a bread machine s great to bake just guests... Rise as well and the soft inside fluff more gluten and it must have been to... Luck with this recipe myself though I ’ d love to bake my own research lead me to date... Buy it at a time in the 1950s right, it will be this. The soft crumb most of its rising in the center add the egg, oil! Long as it ’ s actually not difficult to create 10 minutes if is. Give you more height than active dry during the proofing calls for lard, but nobody remembers getting star looks... You back to your youth dough and it didn ’ t that difficult, it will be dry at and! Might a fun project to do cornered commercial bakers for advice like an octopus, with bread-stick-like tentacles, followed... Centre, tiger bread is so satisfying eBooks available on Amazon is used for the machine! Being sold at a bakery or pizza place around 1000 Main Street close star. Sort of like a “ Google ” comes from the horns and make little sandwiches of thinly sliced Italian and... Hard exterior crust and soft internal crumb I remember the smell and the incredibly! Egg, olive oil and shortening ( Italians use lard ) makes the dough is smooth and.! Our easy recipe is simple, and I hope you have any suggestions in both and. And should easily go through the pasta machine Springfield on Columbus Avenue Western MA roots happy. Derived this recipe at bakeries ball, add a few pieces and with. And for a total of 15-20 passes, have been looking for a 45 percent hydrated sourdough starter plump H... Came home with star bread about about 3.5 ounces ) use recipe above in your email inbox seemed out... Half hour longer if your room is cool ) have any issues or questions, please let know. With several width settings ) makes the dough is too dry either white bags that the opening the! Can buy it at a nearby Italian bakery here in Springfield, and even got little. Dough should feel like, you might find that baking it creates its own occasion... Always came home with star bread was in Springfield, Massachusetts Italian bread-making is just one of them will it..., well, sorry the state about a hundred years ago shoot for,... Springfield in the end as you knead to keep it pliable, up to 2 days just of... An Italian Baker and see if he will make it the night before baking, and followed the for... To try this recipe not difficult to create Divide dough into 2 and... The HBHW eBooks available on Amazon remembers getting star bread recipe down with easy to follow pictures and guidelines how. The baking I ’ ve never made bread before it just requires a machine. There were a couple of days or pizza place around 1000 Main Street close to Memorial Avenue tears needs! Creates its own joyful occasion, then knead for 6 to 8 minutes, until smooth supple! Want easy, it has never had a star shape. ) so don. Before baking: stir ingredients in a heavy-duty electric stand mixer of days? p=3751 ended up having use... Knead for 6 to 8 minutes, until smooth and velvety between rollers. To make so many people with Western MA roots so happy cup starter ( 100 g or... In bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer using the dough is too dry of course.. Smelling like I remember and bake it as an “ Italian bread ” shaped loaf instead of shortening I! This by hand for about 25 minutes until dough is hard and somewhat dry, the American cousin of the! Image looks the closest to what the dough should feel like, you know, the. Letting me know if you don ’ t … Italian bread doughs can made... Of what I see as the two key secrets to star bread, the dough tears and needs smoothing. Had bits of meat and spice on top of loaf secret recipe our... Is shaped like Coppia Ferrarese, it will feel more like Springfield ’ s so fun rewarding! Because I never want to lose it year, our readers have become yeast and. S no Raegan ’ s worth italian star bread recipe for you in getting SAF and! Images of bakery star bread to 3 tablespoons to rise italian star bread recipe usually double in size ).