biga

/BEE-gah/
[Italian]

The starter for bread consisting of a piece of dough left over (or kept especially) from the previous baking, used to ferment a new dough. Some are used in an unbroken line for many years, adding depth and complexity to the resulting bread, Biga may also refer to saltless sponges or risen doughs used to make bread, whether or not it is kept to make a starter.

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Sicilian

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