Fougasse au Beurre Et à L’anis

A fougasse is one of the most distinctive breads in France. I have found these loaves all over the south, but there seems to be more variations on the basic simple loaf in Provence. Lionel Poilane, the Parisian baker, thinks that the loaves were originally designed to test the temperature of the bread oven.

In Provence the dough is usually flavored with salt and olive oil, or it may be kneaded with butter and herbs or spices. This latter kind, as in the recipe that follows, i