Wholewheat Poolish Artisan Buns

My recent trip to the new Library@Vivo City brought me back a baking book - The French Baker. The book has many good pastry recipes, which was difficult to resist.

For a bread lover like me, the first attempt was to try his Semi-sourdough bread. The second attempt, I baked into smaller buns and added wholemeal flours. The crumbs were soft and light. I really like the flavour. I think I might end up with buying this book to keep!
Wholewheat Poolish Buns, adapted from The French Baker.
(Makes 9 buns)

Ingredients:
Poolish
100g Water
100g Plain flour
3g Yeast

Main dough
100g Wholewheat, coarse
300g Plain flour
200g Water (or slightly more)
6g Yeast
12g Fine Sea Salt

Method:
Poolish:
1. Put yeast and water in a medium bowl and stir till fully dissolved.
2. Add the flour and whisk gently until a soft sticky paste forms.
3. Cover with cloth or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Main dough:
1. Place flour, water, salt and yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook and mix on low speed for 10mins.
2. Add the poolish, increase speed to medium and knead for another 10mins or until the dough comes away from the side of the bowl.
3. Do the windowpane test.
4. Then cover the dough with a cloth in a bowl and set aside in a warm place to prove for 45mins.
5. When the dough has risen, knock it down, then fold the sides towards the centre to remove as much gas as possible.
6. Cover and set aside for another 45mins, or until double in size. Then knock the dough down again.
7. The dough is now ready to be divided and balled.
8. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough equally into 9. Approximately 132g for each dough.
9. Take a portion of the dough in the cupped palm of your hand and flatten slightly. Then bring the outside edges into the middle and pinch to seal. Turn the ball over and drag the base over the work surface several times.
10. Place the balls, seam side down on a lightly floured tray, cover with a cloth and set aside to prove for 1-1 1/2hrs or double in size.

11. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 240C at least 30mins before baking.
12. To check if the dough is ready, gently push it with the palm of your, it should feel soft but the dough should still spring back to its original shape.
13. Dust a little flour over the top of dough. Using a sharp paring knife, score the dough at the sides or the middle.

14. Place on the bottom shelf of the oven and spray water into the oven for 5 secs, then quickly close the oven door.
15. Bake for 20mins. To check if the bread is ready, open the oven door and tap the crust with your index fingers. The bread is ready when the crust feels hard and the bun sounds hollow and dry.
16. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before consuming.

The original attempt of his Pain Sur Poolish. I was satisfied with the crumbs of this recipe, which made me attempt it again...and again.