Rye %: | 100% |
Stages: | Sour sponge, Yeasted sponge, Final dough |
Leaven: | Rye sour culture, Instant yeast |
Start to Finish: | 15-17 hours |
Hands-on Time: | 20-25 minutes |
Yield: | Two 1½ lb/700 g loaves. |
Considering that Tourte de Seigle is one of France’s classic rye loaves, I felt that at some point it was a must-bake, and our plans for a New Year’s Eve gathering offered the perfect excuse. Most of the recipes I’ve seen for this traditional 100% rye bread from France’s Auvergne region are built exclusively on a sour rye sponge. This version, which comes from Christian Maurice, bread instructor at Paris’ Ferrandi Culinary Academy, uses both a sour sponge and a yeasted rye sponge, which moderates the acidity of the finished loaf and lets the sweet spiciness of the rye shine through.