June 23, 2010 - 10:09am
New Haven Style Italian Breads and Pastries
I grew up in New Haven and there were two bakeries Apicella's and Venice bakery both made this great Italian bread and I am looking for a recipe so I can recreate it in the south as everything here is mush. Also in New Have the old Verabs bakery used to make poppyseed horns needing a recipe for those as well as friselles
thanks
PS I just finished my brick oven to make New haven style pizza
Share
Sweet yellow center hard to remember the texture but this is the closest image i could come up with, as far as the italian breads they are like grinder breads about 16 - 18 inches long tapered on each end and fatter in the middle. Only New Haven people know what it is. Rocco's Bakery on Ferry Street is now what used to be Verabs and they still carry the horns. Sorry i can't be more descriptive but it's been a long time since I've had or seen any of it.
I'm in Fairfield County and the Italian Bread we get is similar to New York's "Arthur Street" Italian Bread. I believe the "New Haven" Italian Bread replaces the AP Flour with Semolina Flour. If you replace the AP Flour in the recipe below, you should get close to what you seek.
Connecticut Italian Bread
(about 2 lbs.)
Bakers %
Biga: 5-1/2 oz. High Gluten Flour 30
5-1/4 oz. AP Flour 30
6-3/4 oz. Water 35
1 Tbs. Yeast
Dough: 6 oz. High Gluten Flour 30
2 oz. AP Flour 10
4-5/8 oz. Water 24
3/8 oz. Sugar 2
1 tsp. Salt 2
1 Tbs. Non-Diastatic Malt 1
3/8 oz. Shortening 2
166
Make the Biga: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle, combine all of the ingredients. Mix at low speed until a soft dough is formed. Install the dough hook and knead at medium speed for 3-4 minutes. Cover and allow to ferment for 4-6 hours. Punch-down; cover; and refrigerate overnight.
Make the Dough: Remove Biga from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Add the Dough ingredients to the bowl. Install the paddle and mix at low speed until dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Install the dough hook and knead at medium speed to form a smooth, elastic dough, about 10-12 minutes. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or Silpat. Form the dough into torpedo rolls (3-1/2 oz.) or loaves (1 lb.). Cover and proof until almost tripled in size.
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Slash rolls with 1 cut and loaves with 3 cuts. Bake with heavy steam for 5 minutes. reduce temperature to 400°F and bake until fully browned, about 15 minutes for rolls or 25 minutes for loaves. Cool completely before cutting.
I'll give it a try this weekend and let you know how it works out
Cliff
This is a long shot, but have you ever figured out the horn recipe? Almost 11 years later? I’d love to talk to you if you have!