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Recipes » Bread Recipes » Kamut Flour Bread Recipe with Biga

Kamut Flour Bread Recipe with Biga

Posted on June 7, 2019 By Chef Billy Parisi

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Elevate your bread making skills by making this Kamut flour bread recipe that uses an age-old Italian biga to make the lightest most delicious bread ever.

homemade baked bread recipe using kamut flour on a cutting board

When it comes to bread making there are several techniques to use when needing your dough to rise.  I’ve shown you how to make a sourdough starter (levain) from scratch and then I’ve used in a Spelt Flour bread recipe and a Graham Flour rustic wheat bread recipe.  For this Kamut bread recipe, I’m going to be using something called a Biga which is an Italian pre-fermentation method to help break down the gluten and provide tons of delicious flavor.  Kamut is not gluten-free.

Preferments: The process of using a small amount of commercial yeast mixed with 30% to 80% of the total flour and water in the bread recipe and letting it rest from 10 to 24 hours to ferment.  It adds acidity, flavor and a shorter first rise when resting.

What Is Kamut

Kamut flour is a relative to modern-day wheat and seriously the most amazing flour to add to any baked good. Bob’s Red Mill Kamut is very finely ground and for comparison I would say it’s pretty dang close to an Italian 00 flour.  That’s right, Kamut flour is insane for making pasta and bread, which is why I used it in this recipe.

Kamut brand Khorasan wheat was said to be found in Egyptian tombs.  A man from the US received some of this wheat and eventually brought it back to the states where most of it is currently grown and harvested in the central north part of the US.

kamut flour bread recipe on a cutting board with a knife

Using a Biga Recipe

Biga is a common Italian pre-ferment where you take roughly 50% of the total flour and about 40% to 45% of the total water and mix it together with a very small amount of yeast.  You then cover it and let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 24 hours.  The longer a biga recipe sits, the more intense the flavor it provides.

A biga is usually good to go once it triples in size. It will have a slightly domed top to it and will have some air bubbles running through it once it is ready to be used.  Biga’s are commonly used in bread that is light and fluffy like focaccia and ciabatta.

Making Bread With Kamut

step by step images of making a homemade bread recipe using kamut flour

  1. Mix together 50% of the total flour with 45% of the total water at 80° to 82° and a small amount of yeast in a container until combined. Cover and rest for 10 to 24 hours or tripled in size.
  2. In a separate large container mix together the remaining flours, salt, yeast, and water at 100° to 102° until combined.
  3. Add in the biga and vigorously mix by squeezing and folding until combined, mix for about 3 to 4 minutes.  Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
  4. Fold the dough by stretching and turning 6 to 8 times every 20 minutes for 80 minutes.  Cover and rest for 2 hours.
  5. Divide it on a floured surface and form two balls and set each in a proofing basked covered in a towel for 1 hour.
  6. Add each dough to a preheated Dutch oven pot and cook at 500° for 30 minutes covered and then uncover and cook for a further 20 to 25 minutes.
  7. Cool the dough on a rack before slicing and serving.

loaves of bread on a cutting board with a serrated knife

Chef Recipe Notes + Tips

Since this Kamut flour bread uses a pre-ferment, the bread contains a higher acidity level allowing it to last for up to 10 days.

This biga recipe is also perfect for bread such as ciabatta, baguette or pizza dough.

Time and temperature are incredibly important so remember to keep the dough when rising in a warm place and to always check the temperature of your dough after kneading.

If you don’t have a big bucket as I do in the video, it’s ok to use a large bowl with a towel over top.

More Amazing Bread Recipes

  • Homemade Pita Bread Recipe
  • Homemade White Bread
  • Naan 
  • Country Artisan Loaf
  • Graham Wheat Bread Recipe
  • Sourdough

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Pinterest, and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Video

homemade baked bread recipe using kamut flour on a cutting board
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Kamut Flour Bread Recipe with Biga

Elevate your bread making skills by making this Kamut flour bread recipe that uses an age-old Italian biga to make the lightest most delicious bread ever.
Prep Time17 hrs
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time18 hrs
Course: bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: French, Italian
Servings: 2 loaves of bread
Calories: 1872kcal
Author: Chef Billy Parisi

Ingredients

  • 650 grams of Bread Flour
  • 250 grams of Bob’s Red Mill Kamut Flour
  • 150 grams of Ivory Wheat Flour
  • 880 grams of water
  • 25 grams of sea salt
  • 4.5 grams of active yeast

Instructions

  • In a large container mix together 550 grams of bread flour with 396 grams of water at 80° to 82° and .5 grams of yeast until combined. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 10 to 24 hours or until tripled in size.
  • In a separate large container mix together the remaining 150 grams of bread flour, Kamut, ivory wheat flour, salt, remaining 4 grams of yeast and remaining 484 grams of water at 100 to 102° until combined.
  • Add the biga to the mixture and vigorously mix it by squeezing, stretching and folding until completely mixed in, about 3 to 4 minutes. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
  • Fold the dough by stretching and turning it 6 to 8 times every 20 minutes for 80 minutes.
  • Cover and let rest for 2 more hours or until tripled in size.
  • Divide the dough on a clean surface dusted with flour and form 2 dough balls. Transfer each to a floured proofing basket, cover with a towel and let proof for 60 to 90 minutes.
  • Place 2 Dutch oven pots into an oven and preheat to 500° and let sit for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the pots and place the dough carefully into each Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until the outside of the bread is dark brown.
  • Set on a cooling rack for 30 minutes.
  • Slice and serve.

Notes

Chef Notes:
  • Since this Kamut flour bread uses a pre-ferment, the bread contains a higher acidity level allowing it to last for up to 10 days.
  • This biga recipe is also perfect for bread such as ciabatta, baguette or pizza dough.
  • Time and temperature are incredibly important so remember to keep the dough when rising in a warm place and to always check the temperature of your dough after kneading. 
  • If you don't have a big bucket like I do in the video, it's ok to use a large bowl with a towel over top.

Nutrition

Serving: 20g | Calories: 1872kcal | Carbohydrates: 382g | Protein: 63g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 4890mg | Potassium: 1148mg | Fiber: 23g | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 11.5mg
Kamut Flour Bread Recipe with Biga was last modified: April 29th, 2020 by Chef Billy Parisi

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christine says

    May 22, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Thanks for sharing this recipe. Question about bread flour: is total amount 650g or 700g? In recipe it said 550 g in Biga and remaining 150g in dough.

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      May 22, 2020 at 1:22 pm

      650

      Reply
      • ZhaCook says

        January 05, 2021 at 3:36 am

        5 stars
        great recipe. i am making for second time. And just also noticed the 550 and 150 in the recipe. So you should just add 100 extra, not 150?

        Reply
  2. Kevin says

    May 03, 2020 at 8:29 am

    I noticed in the video you put the dough ball into the brot form with the seam side down; I thought the seam should be up so when it’s turned out the seam is on the bottom.

    Also, can half of the dough be retarded for a few days in the refrigerator? If so, would you do that before or after the bulk fermentation?

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      May 03, 2020 at 8:30 am

      That’s because I did not want to score it, which you can see in the pictures for 1 of the loaves. You can retard for up to 24 hours but it’s best for 12-16 hours. After bulk.

      Reply
  3. Kevin says

    May 03, 2020 at 7:50 am

    In the notes you say time and temperature are “incredibly important “ and to check the temperature after kneading yet you don’t do that in the video nor is it mentioned in the recipe. I suppose you mean temperature during the stretch & fold sequence and then during bulk fermentation. Controlling ambient temp is easy enough; 75-80 degrees is standard for proofing but what should the dough temp be and how do you adjust it if it’s too low?

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      May 03, 2020 at 8:27 am

      Time and temp of proofing environment, not dough. FInal cooking temp of cooked bread is also important.

      Reply
  4. Donna Hughes says

    March 01, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    Kamut Khorisan wheat is not modern. It is an ancient form of Durum wheat. A landrace – original and not crossed with anything. I buy the Kamut grain and mill it right before using. I use a wet sponge and 3 risings, then the one in the loaf pan. I will have to try your recipe and see how it compares.

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      March 02, 2020 at 8:22 am

      Correct, I said it’s a relative to modern day wheat.

      Reply
  5. Patty says

    October 27, 2019 at 10:36 am

    can 00 flour be substituted for the kamut flour?

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      October 27, 2019 at 4:48 pm

      There’s a lot of talk about this. You could, or fid a really fine semolina

      Reply
  6. Candiace says

    October 26, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    Looks so tasty! Any recommendations for using a sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast for this recipe?

    Reply
    • Chef Billy Parisi says

      October 27, 2019 at 4:49 pm

      Yes I’ve got a Graham bread recipe that you could use the same process but with a starter.

      Reply
  7. Taylor says

    June 07, 2019 at 9:50 am

    5 stars
    Looks so delicious! Must try soon!

    Reply
  8. Kristyn says

    June 07, 2019 at 9:27 am

    5 stars
    Pretty looking bread!! Sounds yum! I will have to give it a try..we love homemade bread!

    Reply
  9. lauren kelly says

    June 07, 2019 at 8:50 am

    5 stars
    This bread is incredible! Thank you for an delicious recipe!

    Reply
  10. Alli says

    June 07, 2019 at 8:50 am

    5 stars
    Your bread recipes have inspired me so much! They are all so amazing, I can’t wait to keep baking through them!

    Reply
  11. Toni says

    June 07, 2019 at 8:47 am

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to give this a try! Such an amazing bread recipe!

    Reply

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ABOUT ME

I’m Billy Parisi and thanks for checking out my site! I’m a culinary school grad that spent 15 years in the restaurant industry as a line cook, sous chef and executive chef. Now I write recipes, take pictures of’em, shoot some video, occasionally hosting on TV, checking out the latest fashion, hangin with my wife and daughter and watching a whole bunch of college sports. Hope you enjoy my twists on classics as well as new innovations! Read More…

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