Crusty homemade smoked-flour baguette with smoked aïoli and roasted tomatoes

To make the baguette: Preheat the oven to 240°C.

In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast and sugar over a little warm water and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in 2 cups smoked flour, until incorporated. Stir in the salt and a further 2 cups flour to form a dough.

Sprinkle the remaining flour onto a work surface and knead the dough until smooth and elastic, but not sticky. Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside, turning in the bowl to evenly coat with oil.

Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to rest until almost doubled in size.

Remove the dough from the bowl and shape into a slender baguette, then place on a greased baking tray and leave to rise for a further 30 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut a few slashes into the surface of the loaf before baking for 30 minutes, or until crisp, cooked and golden.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

To make the aïoli: Using a blender, blend the egg, lemon juice, mustard, garlic and seasoning, until combined. While the motor is still running, slowly pour in the oil, in a thin, steady stream, to create a creamy, thick consistency.

To make the roasted tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Place the tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over the sea salt. Place in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the skins have burst and the flesh is soft and juicy.

Cook’s tip: Keep home-made bread fresh for longer by storing it with half a potato in your bread bin.

Per serving: 4591.4 kJ, 17.4 g protein, 72.7 g fat, 91.9 g carbs

TASTE’s take:

Smoke from smouldering oak chips lends flour a flavour redolent of wood-fired ovens. (Such flour is cold smoked in a smoke house for almost 24 hours.) If you can't find smoked flour, ordinary flour will do just fine.