Walnut Bread

The affinity of walnuts and whole wheat plays out well in this fairly simple loaf. I ramped up the walnut component by mixing in toasted pieces, including ground nuts along with the flour and even adding some walnut oil to the dough. Making this bread is straightforward enough for the home cook to master, and using a mere pinch of yeast will give the dough a nice rise. This dough would also welcome raisins, olives or pieces of figs along with the walnuts. I have found that the best way to introduce ingredients like these is to knead them in after the first rise.

Ingredients

2 ⅓ cups/225 grams chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons/7 grams active dry yeast (1 packet)
1 tablespoon/15 grams sea salt
3 tablespoons/45 milliliters maple syrup
4 tablespoons/60 milliliters walnut oil
2 cups/250 grams whole-wheat flour
3 cups/375 grams bread flour
Coarse cornmeal, for dusting baking sheet

2 loaves

Preparation

Toast walnuts in an oven or under the broiler. Set aside to cool.
Place yeast in a large mixing bowl. Mix salt into 2 cups (473 milliliters) lukewarm water. Stir into yeast. Stir in maple syrup and 2 tablespoons oil.
Measure 1 cup of the toasted walnuts, place in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of the whole-wheat flour and process until finely ground. Add to bowl along with remaining whole-wheat flour. Stir with a wooden spoon.
Add bread flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms and leaves the sides of the bowl. (At this point you’re better off mixing with your hands.) Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Continue adding bread flour, kneading as you go, until you have a dough that’s a bit on the soft side, only slightly sticky and easy to handle.
Clean out your bowl, coat it with 1 tablespoon oil, and place dough back into the bowl, turning it so it’s oiled all over. Cover with a cloth and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch the dough down, add remaining toasted walnuts and lightly knead them into the dough. Dust a spacious baking sheet with cornmeal. Divide the dough in half, shape into 2 balls and place on the baking sheet. Cover loosely and let rise for an hour.
Place the oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Slash the tops of the breads with a razor or a lame (a baker’s blade). Do not be tentative about this step; your slashes should be a good half-inch deep, done with a firm, even hand.
Place the baking sheet in the oven. Throw a handful of ice cubes on the floor of the oven to create steam. Bake 20 minutes. By this time the breads should be a nice honey-brown. Brush them with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, reduce heat to 350 degrees, add more ice cubes and bake about 25 minutes longer, until the breads are well browned and sound hollow when tapped. Allow to cool at least 1 hour before cutting.

3 1/2 hours, plus cooling