This recipe for homemade Ficelle bread with crusty curst and soft inside, is the second in our series of 15 baguette recipes, after this easy Baguette recipe. All you need to make it are five simple ingredients and 4 steps(mix the dough, shape, let it rise and bake) to you can enjoy French breadsticks that are perfect for any time of day.
What is Ficelle?
Ficelle is a long, thin type of French bread, typically made from the same dough used for baguettes, which includes flour, water, salt, yeast and sometimes sugar. The dough is rolled into a thinner, cylindrical shape and baked for a shorter time, resulting in a crispy crust and soft texture. In France, there are several varieties of ficelle, such as the Lyonnaise ficelle, which is known for its higher crust-to-crumb ratio and light, airy interior.
Overview: How to Make Ficelle Recipe in 4 steps
- Mix the dough ingredients together. the dough should be dry.
shape the ficelle. See below to learn how to make a ficelle, step by step. - Let it rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours. Cover the dough and let it rise at room temperature for about 2-3 hours until doubled in size.
- Let it rise in the oven. Fill a bowl with boiling water and place it in the bottom of the oven (for an ideal rising environment), place the uncovered ficelle dough in the oven and allow it to rise for about an hour.
- Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Essential Tools To make French Ficelle
To make this ficelle bread recipe, you may need a some tools that I use in my daily recipes: A stand mixer to knead the dough, measuring cups and spoons to measure all my ingredients, and a kitchen scale to weigh the divided ficelle dough. For baking, I used my oven baking sheet for this recipe, but if you want a recommendation, check out this Nordic Ware Half Sheet.
How to Shape the Ficelle?
Shaping a ficelle is very similar to the French baguette, here is a step-by-step guide:
- Take a ball of the dough, gently flatten it into rectangular shape, fold the long edge of the dough inward about one third of the way. Flip the dough in the opposite way. and fold the other long edge of the dough one third of the way.
- Using you weak hand, place your thumb horizontally with the middle seam, and pick up the top edge of the dough up and press it into the other edge of the dough, leaving your thumb in the middle of the dough. Use your finger to close the seams. Move your finger gently and continue to close the dough in the same way with your other hand until he end of the dough. (If you find this stage difficult, simply shape the dough into hot dog buns as you know).
- Place your palms in the center of the dough and gently roll it outward to lengthen he dough from the center toward the end, aiming for a 17-18 inch length (45cm).
Ficelle Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups (410 grams) all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
- 1 tsp (200 grams) room-temperature water
- 1 tsp (4 grams) instant yeast
- 1 tsp (7 grams) salt
- 1 tsp (5 grams) sugar
Instructions
- Knead the dough: In the bowl of stand mixer, add water, flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Attach the dough hook, turn on the mixer and knead the dough on low speed for 6 minutes, then increase to medium speed and knead for another 6 minutes. (the dough should be dry at this stage).
- Roll the dough into a ball and let it rest for 15 minutes. Next, divide the ball into 6 equal pieces and let it rest for another 15 minutes to make it easier to shape.
- Shape the ficelle: shape each ball into a ficelle shape, about 17 inch longer (45cm) (See above for how to shape a ficelle step-by-step). Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (If your baking sheet is only 18 inches long or less, you can use two baking sheets and place the ficelle dough at a 45-degree angle).
- Rise: Put a bowl filled with boiling water in the bottom of the oven to create a warm, humid environment. Then, place the baking sheet in the oven and allow the dough to rise for one hour. (80 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) is best for the dough to rise).
- Remove your baking sheet and let the boiling water. Preheat your oven at 440 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).
- Score the ficelle dough with a sharp knife and spray them with water.
- Bake the ficelle: Remove the bowl of the boiling water and place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake the ficelle for 15 minutes or until golden brown on the top. When they are hot, spray them with water.
