Chef John's Cuban Bread | Crawford Family Recipes | Umami

Ingredients

• ½ cup warm water
• ½ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• ¾ cup warm water
• 3 tablespoons lard
• 2 teaspoons fine salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed - divided
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal