How to Make Bread for Tortas - You Won't Believe How EASY It Is!

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil reduces saturated fat while adding flavor.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: bread flour

Whole wheat flour increases fiber content.

In a medium bowl, add 1 cup of flour, yeast, and 1 cup of slightly warm water, about 110° F and 115° F; use a kitchen thermometer for accuracy. Using a rubber spatula, mix to combine. Let the yeast mixture sit for about 15 minutes until it doubles in size. Combine the remaining flour, sugar, and salt in the center of a clean work surface or a 30 qt. standard-weight mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture about 4 inches wide.

Add the yeast mixture and the shortening into the well; use your hand to incorporate the dry mixture into the wet mixture a little at a time until somewhat incorporated. Next, pour in the warm water while using your hand to combine the ingredients into a homogeneous mixture. Knead the dough until you have a smooth and elastic dough that releases from the work surface or the bowl, about 10 to 15 minutes.

If you find your dough sticking to your work surface after kneading it, you can try drizzling a bit of oil rather than flour to help it release itself from the surface. The oil will create a barrier between the dough and the surface, making it easier to work with. Just be sure to use a light hand when adding the oil, as too much can make the dough greasy and difficult to work with.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and spray the dough with a thin coating of cooking spray. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside to proof in a warm, draft-free place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Once the dough has rested, gently punch it down, deflating the dough. Divide bread dough into 110g equal pieces. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy. Roll each piece into a ball, then coat each piece in coat in flour, cover it with a towel, and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Take one of the dough balls and coat both sides with a generous amount of flour. Be sure to evenly distribute the flour as you work to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface or rolling pin.

Then, place the dough ball onto a clean surface. Use a small fondant rolling pin ( about 1-inch diameter) or your hand to stretch out the dough towards the ends just a bit; this should form a slightly oval shape that is about 5 to 6 inches long, depending on how large you want them to be. Repeat this process with the remaining dough balls, coating each one with flour before shaping.

Once the dough has been shaped, place it onto a baking sheet pan that has been dusted with flour or lined with parchment paper, cover it with a towel, and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 25 to 30 minutes. Fifteen minutes before baking your bread for tortas, preheat your oven to 400 °F, and bake the telera rolls for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the bread reaches 190 °F. When the Telera is done, remove them from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens