Sourdough Baguette with Almond Pesto

Here's how:

• 1

  Mix the sourdough starter with the yeast and water. Add all the ingredients except the salt.

• 2

  Knead into a elastic and smooth dough, about 10 minutes in a machine. Double that time if you’re kneading by hand. Add the salt at the end of the kneading process. The dough should be loose, but not sticky. Shape the dough into a smooth, even ball. Let it rise until doubled in size in a bowl covered with plastic wrap for at least 2 hours. Take the opportunity to make the almond pesto while the dough is rising. 

• 3

  Almond Pesto

  Grate the almond paste and garlic. Mix the herbs, garlic, and almond paste with the olive oil, and stir in the Parmesan. Season to taste with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a nice glass jar.

• 4

  Turn the dough out onto the table, handling it as little as possible. Divide it into baguettes and gently roll them out to the desired length. Then sift a little flour over the loaves.

• 5

  Place the loaves on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise for about 1 hour.

• 6

  Preheat the oven to 260 °C well in advance of baking, and at the same time, place a pan containing 0.5 L of water in the oven.

• 7

  Make 2–3 slits in the loaves just before placing the baking sheet in the oven, then lower the temperature to 220 °C. Bake in the middle of the oven until the loaves are nicely browned, about 20 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Slice and serve with almond pesto, serrano ham, and/or delicious cheeses! 

• 8

  Tip! Make warm baguettes with pesto. Serve them with a delicious pasta dish, salad, soup, or something grilled.

  Make deep slits in the baked baguettes. Mix the almond pesto with butter and spread the pesto-butter mixture into the slits. Place the bread on an oven-safe dish and bake at 200 °C for about 5 minutes, or wrap the bread in aluminum foil and place it on the grill for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, cut into thin slices, top with pesto and grated cheese, and broil in the oven at 200 °C for about 5 minutes.