Deli-Style Rye Bread

I've been wanting to make rye bread since I started baking my own bread.  I found this recipe in my favorite cookbook.  It makes ones giant loaf (half can be frozen) and tastes super tangy and yummy.  It takes about 5-6 hours to make so it is perfect for a Saturday or Sunday.

Photo by: Jason Hedlund

Ingredients:
Sponge:
2/3 cup rye flakes (optional)
2 3/4 cups water, at room temperature
1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
2 Tbsp honey
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Dough:
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
3 1/2 cups medium or light rye flour (I used dark rye flour since that is what we had)
2 Tbsp caraway seeds (we omitted this because we didn't have any and the book said it was ok)
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp salt
cornmeal for sprinkling the baking sheet

Glaze:
1 egg white
1 Tbsp milk

Directions:
(1) For the sponge: Heat the oven to 350F; toast the rye flakes, if using, on a small baking sheet until fragrant and golden brown, 10-12 minutes.  Cool to room temperature.  Mix the water, yeast, honey, rye flakes, and flour in mixing bowl of a standing mixer to form a thick batter.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit until bubbles form over the entire surface, at least 2 1/2 hours.  (The sponge can stand at cool room temperature overnight).
(2) For the dough: Stir the all-purpose flour, 3 1/4 cups of the rye flour, the caraway seeds, oil, and salt into the sponge.  Attach the dough hook and knead the dough at low speed, adding the remaining 1/4 cup rye flour once the dough becomes cohesive; knead until smooth yet sticky, about 5 minutes.  With moistened hands, transfer the dough to a well floured work surface, knead it into a smooth ball, then place it in a very lightly oiled large bowl or straight-sided container.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at warm room temperature until doubled in size, 1 1/4 to 2 hours.
(3) Generously sprinkle the cornmeal on a large baking sheet.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and press it into a 12 x 9-inch rectangle.  (For 2 smaller loaves, half the dough, pressing each portion into a 9 x 6 1/2-inch rectangle.)  With one of the long sides facing you, roll the dough into a 12-inch log (or two 9-inch logs), seam-side up.  Pinch the seam with your finger tips to seal.  Turn the dough seam-side down and, with your finger tips, seal the ends by tucking them into the loaf.  Carefully transfer the shaped loaf to the prepared baking sheet, cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap, and let rise until the dough looks bloated and dimply and starts to spread out, 60 - 75 minutes.  Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle to position and heat oven to 425F.
(4) For the glaze: Whisk the egg white and milk together and brush over sides and top of loaf.  Right before baking, make 6-7 slashes, 1/2-inch deep, in the top of the dough with a single-edge razor blade or very sharp knife.  Bake for 15 minutes then lower oven temperature to 400F and bake until golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of loaf reads 200F, 25-30 minutes (or 15-20 minutes for smaller loaves).  Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperatures.  Enjoy!