bread recipe
Bread Recipe
Just like the ancient bakers who perfected their craft, you can create your own homemade bread with simple ingredients. You’ll need active dry yeast, warm water, sugar, salt, oil, and all-purpose flour. Start by proofing the yeast, then mix your ingredients and knead the dough. After letting it rise, you’ll shape it into loaves. But what happens next is where the magic truly begins, transforming your kitchen into a haven of delicious aromas.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When you decide to make your own bread, you’ll quickly realize it offers many benefits that store-bought options just can’t match.
Homemade bread is packed with essential nutrients, allowing you to use whole wheat flour, flaxseeds, or nuts for added vitamins and minerals. It’s high in fiber, which helps with digestion and keeps you feeling full longer. Additionally, the high-fiber content can aid in stabilizing blood sugar levels, further supporting your overall health.
You can avoid preservatives and artificial additives, making your bread easier to digest. Plus, the fermentation process supports gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria.
With the ability to add veggies or protein-rich ingredients, like Greek yogurt, you can customize the nutritional value.
History
Bread has a fascinating history that stretches back thousands of years, showcasing humanity’s ingenuity in creating a staple food.
You’ll find that around 10,000 BCE, early humans made the first flatbreads using just flour and water. By 3000 BCE, the Ancient Egyptians had developed baked leavened bread, a significant advancement. Ancient Romans consumed porridge and baked bread for about 600 years post-Rome’s founding. Grain cultivation began in the Indus Valley around 3500 BCE, while the Ancient Greeks learned bread-making from the Egyptians around 800 BCE.
Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution, and new technologies transformed bread production, making it more efficient.
Today, artisan methods are gaining popularity again, focusing on natural ingredients and traditional techniques, even as mass production continues with pre-mixed and frozen dough.
Each era has shaped how you enjoy bread today.
Recipe
Making homemade bread is a rewarding process that fills your kitchen with delightful aromas and results in a delicious treat that can be enjoyed fresh or toasted. This simple bread recipe utilizes basic ingredients that are commonly found in most kitchens. With a little patience and attention to detail, you can create a loaf that’s soft, fluffy, and perfect for sandwiches, toasting, or simply slathering with butter.
The key to successful bread-making is understanding how yeast works and allowing the dough to rise properly. By following the steps carefully, you’ll guarantee that your bread has a wonderful texture and flavor. So roll up your sleeves and prepare to initiate a baking adventure that will leave you with a satisfying loaf to enjoy!
Ingredients:
– Active dry yeast
– Warm water (105-115 degrees F)
– Granulated sugar or honey
– Salt
– Canola or vegetable oil (or melted butter)
– All-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Start by proofing the yeast. In a large mixing bowl, combine the active dry yeast with warm water and a pinch of sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Once the yeast is activated, add the remaining sugar, salt, oil, and about half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined.
- Gradually add more flour, mixing until the dough comes together. If using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and knead the mixture on low speed. Knead until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, which should take about 1-2 hours.
- After the first rise, punch down the dough to release the air, then turn it out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and shape each piece into a loaf.
- Place the shaped loaves into greased 9×5 inch bread pans. Cover the pans with a towel and allow the loaves to rise again until they double in size, approximately 30-60 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once the loaves have risen, bake them in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the best results, make sure your yeast is fresh and active. The amount of flour needed can vary based on humidity and altitude, so be prepared to adjust as necessary.
If you want to speed up the rising process, you can preheat your oven to 180 degrees F, turn it off, and place your covered dough inside. Finally, store your cooled bread in an airtight container or bag to keep it fresh for longer. Enjoy your homemade bread!
Final Thoughts
As you wrap up your bread-making adventure, it’s important to reflect on a few key aspects that can elevate your results.
Remember, longer rest periods lead to better flavor and texture, so don’t rush. Control your temperatures carefully for yeast activation and baking; this is vital. Using fresh yeast is essential for a proper rise, while precise ingredient measurements impact the final product. Pay attention to your dough handling, as proper kneading prevents unwanted air bubbles. Allow your dough to double in size during the first rise for ideal results. Additionally, using bread flour can significantly enhance the chewiness and overall flavor of your artisan bread.
Finally, cooling your bread properly before storage can help maintain its freshness, and consider freezing for future enjoyment.
These tips will surely enhance your bread-making experience!
FAQ
What questions do you have about baking bread? A common issue is bread density. If your bread is too dense, check your yeast’s expiration date and make certain you measure flour correctly. Remember, scooping can lead to excess flour.
For rising, let your dough double during the first rise and avoid over-kneading to prevent chewiness. Keep your kitchen warm to speed up rising times. Additionally, using higher gluten bread flour can help improve the texture of your bread.
When baking, start at 250°C, then lower the temperature. Check the bread after 20-25 minutes to avoid overcooking. If you forget yeast, mix it with warm water and re-knead the dough.
Finally, always cover your dough to protect it from air exposure, which can affect rising. Happy baking!
Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- - Active dry yeast
- - Warm water 105-115 degrees F
- - Granulated sugar or honey
- - Salt
- - Canola or vegetable oil or melted butter
- - All-purpose flour
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Start by proofing the yeast. In a large mixing bowl, combine the active dry yeast with warm water and a pinch of sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Once the yeast is activated, add the remaining sugar, salt, oil, and about half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined.
- Gradually add more flour, mixing until the dough comes together. If using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and knead the mixture on low speed. Knead until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, which should take about 1-2 hours.
- After the first rise, punch down the dough to release the air, then turn it out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and shape each piece into a loaf.
- Place the shaped loaves into greased 9x5 inch bread pans. Cover the pans with a towel and allow the loaves to rise again until they double in size, approximately 30-60 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once the loaves have risen, bake them in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the best results, make sure your yeast is fresh and active. The amount of flour needed can vary based on humidity and altitude, so be prepared to adjust as necessary.
- If you want to speed up the rising process, you can preheat your oven to 180 degrees F, turn it off, and place your covered dough inside. Finally, store your cooled bread in an airtight container or bag to keep it fresh for longer. Enjoy your homemade bread!