Savory Brioche Food

BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and mix on low speed to combine. Add the milk and 6 eggs and mix on low until well combined. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until the dough starts to pull away from the sides, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the speed to medium and start adding the butter, a little at a time and waiting until it is completely incorporated to add more, about 5 minutes. Return the mixer to medium-high and continue to mix until the dough is glossy and slightly tacky but not sticky, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, then cover with plastic and refrigerate 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Generously butter two 9-by-5-inch nonstick loaf pans and divide the dough between them. Generously butter two pieces of plastic wrap large enough to cover the pans and place them butter-side down loosely over the pans. Let the dough rise until it comes to 1 inch above the rims of the pans, about 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. Remove the plastic wrap and brush the top of each loaf with the egg wash, then place the pans on the middle rack of the oven. Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and the internal temperature of each loaf is 190 degrees F, about 30 minutes. Remove the pans to a wire rack and let cool 5 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the loaves to loosen and remove the loaves from the pan. Let cool completely on the rack.

SAUSAGE AND LEEK SAVORY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease six 12-ounce ramekins with 2 tablespoons of the butter and set aside on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Spread the brioche on a second rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing halfway through, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and squash and cook, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon, until the sausage is browned and the squash is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the leeks, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and continue to cook, stirring often, until the leeks are wilted and softened, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk together the chicken broth, cream, parsley, chives and eggs in a medium bowl. Add half the brioche to the ramekins. Divide the sausage mixture among the ramekins; top with 1 cup of the Gruyere and the remaining brioche. Pour the egg mixture over and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup Gruyere.
• Set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the egg mixture. Bake on the baking sheet until the custard is set and the bread pudding is puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chives before serving.

BRIOCHE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour sugar and salt. Make a well in center of the bowl and mix in the eggs and yeast mixture. Beat well until the dough has pulled together, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Flatten the dough and spread it with one third of the butter. Knead this well. Repeat this twice to incorporate the remaining butter. Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes between additions of butter. This process may take 20 minutes or so. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. It needs time to chill in order to become more workable.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, form into loaves and place into prepared pans. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume, about 60 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans (see Cook's Note to make rolls). Beat the egg yolk with 1 teaspoon of water to make a glaze.
• Brush the loaves or rolls with the egg wash. Bake in preheated oven until a deep golden brown. Start checking the loaves for doneness after 25 minutes, and rolls at 10 minutes. Let the loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool completely.

SAVORY BRIOCHE

Steps:

• 1. Combine the milk, honey and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook (this can also be done by hand in a large bowl if you don't have a mixer). Turn the mixer on to distribute the yeast. Add the flour and turn the mixer to medium speed. Once the flour has begun to absorb the liquid, add the eggs, one at a time. When the eggs are incorporated add the schmaltz, then the salt, and mix on high until all the ingredients are well incorporated, 3 to 5 minutes.
• 2. Cover the mixing bowl with a lid or with plastic wrap and let the dough ferment and rise till it's doubled in size, about 3 hours (less if your kitchen is hot).
• 3. Grease your cooking vessel (see below).
• 4. Re-knead the dough by hand to redistribute the yeast and knock some of the gas out. Shape as desired: form into balls and place in a cake pan or springform mold for dinner rolls, in individual ramekins or a muffin pan, or put the whole dough ball as is in a terrine mold or loaf pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 to 36 hours.
• 5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator 1-1/2 to 2 hours before baking (shorter if they're in individual portions, longer if a single loaf). Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C. When they've reached room temperature and have started to rise, bake them. Individual portions will take about 25 minutes, whole loaves will take about 45 minutes. If you're uncertain about doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer- they're done when they've reached an internal temperature of 200°F/95°C. The crust should be an appealing golden brown.
• 6. This dough can also be frozen after the fermentation stage. Shape or mold it, wrap it twice in plastic, and freeze. To bake the dough, refrigerate it for 24 hours, then allow it to temper and rise at room temperature for 2 hours before baking.