Lesson 3 of 4
Dimple, top & bake
Dimpling creates pockets for oil and toppings without flattening the entire dough.
Ingredients for this learning path
- 500 g bread flour
- 400 g water
- 100 g ripe stiff starter (50% hydration)
- 10 g salt
- 30 g olive oil, plus more for pan and finishing
- Rosemary and thinly sliced garlic, to taste
Equipment
- Digital scale
- Mixing bowl
- 9 × 13 inch metal baking pan
- Flexible scraper
The lesson
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Drizzle remaining oil over the dough. Oil fingertips and press down gently across the surface.
- Add rosemary and thin garlic slices tucked into the dimples. Keep toppings light; heavy wet vegetables can weigh down the crumb.
- Bake 25–35 minutes until golden and crisp around the edges. Lift a corner carefully to check the base.
- Remove from the pan after a brief rest and cool on a rack so steam does not soften the bottom.
The baker’s note
If garlic browns too fast, tuck it deeper into the dough next time.
Practice
Compare the base and top color, then note your ideal rack position.
Technique lessons may require a separate complete formula. Read the full path before mixing.
LESSON 3 OF 4 · 7 min read
Dimple, top & bake
Dimpling creates pockets for oil and toppings without flattening the entire dough.
Go to guided practice & lesson checkLet’s work through it
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Drizzle remaining oil over the dough. Oil fingertips and press down gently across the surface.
- Add rosemary and thin garlic slices tucked into the dimples. Keep toppings light; heavy wet vegetables can weigh down the crumb.
- Bake 25–35 minutes until golden and crisp around the edges. Lift a corner carefully to check the base.
- Remove from the pan after a brief rest and cool on a rack so steam does not soften the bottom.
LEARN IT. TRY IT. MAKE IT YOURS.
Your practice bench
Read the whole lesson first, then work at your own pace. Check a step when you’ve practiced or reviewed it.
STEP 1 OF 4
Preheat oven to 450°F. Drizzle remaining oil over the dough. Oil fingertips and press down gently across the surface.
MAKE THE BAKER’S CALL
TAKE IT TO YOUR OWN KITCHEN
Your next small experiment
Compare the base and top color, then note your ideal rack position.
Record what happened in my journalMake it part of your practice
Compare the base and top color, then note your ideal rack position.
YOUR BAKING JOURNAL
Remember what the dough taught you.
Record your temperatures, timing, observations and one thing to try next.
Sign in to keep a journal