In a cold kitchen, my sweet stiff levain needed 6 hours to double. I would have liked to see it triple in size but it had stalled so I used it at double. My final dough then took quite some time to rise, likely because of the combination of the levain strength, the oil and sugar in the dough, and my cold kitchen. This actually worked well for an overnight rise of 13 hours. In a warm kitchen or a proofing box, this rise might have only been 5-8 hours. The final proof of my dough, again cold kitchen, was 3 hours.

Sweet Stiff Levain

Combine the ingredients for the levain in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Tranfer to a small jar, pressing the levain flat with a spatula. Cover and mark the level on the jar.

Place the levain somewhere warm if possible and let it expand to at least double in size. This can take 4-8 hours depending on the ambient temperature.

Dough Mixing and First Rise

By hand or with a stand mixer, mix together all of the dough ingredients, using the smaller end of the water range and adding more only as needed. Mix or knead until you have a smooth, supple dough.

Cover and let the dough rise until it is double in size. In a cold winter kitchen ~65°F, my dough needed 13 hours. In some of the videos I watched, the bakers only gave the dough one rise.

Shaping and Final Proof

For your baking surface, you want space for a himbasha that is 10-12" diameter -- and it is easier to make cuts in the dough when there is no lip on the baking sheet. Some options are to use an inverted baking sheet or use parchment paper under the dough, allowing you to slide the dough onto a flat surface for the cutting stage. Otherwise you can simply oil your baking sheet.

Carefully scoop the dough out of the bowl onto the baking sheet and press it into a circle. If the dough resists stretching, cover it for a few minutes and let the gluten relax.

Once the dough is 10-12 inches in diameter, lightly oil the top and cover it (invert another pan or lay plastic wrap over it) and let it rise for 1-3 hours. It should puff up a bit during this time.

Decorating and Baking

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Using a knife, cut across the dough in a pattern like spokes on a wheel and then make additional cuts within each wedge in whatever design you like. You can also use a glass to stamp rings or a fork to prick dots.

Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes. If the top of the bread is not a toasty brown by the end of the bake, switch to the broil setting for 1 minute. Keep your eyes on the dough the entire time it is broiling. Or if you have a peel and want to flip the dough, do this about halfway through the bake.

Serve the bread warm if possible. On subsequent days, the bread can be warmed in a toaster oven or microwave.