Easy & Comforting Homemade Bread
Who loves bread? Yea, I’m pretty much a lover of all bread and I jumped on that 2020 bread making bandwagon during quarantine. I actually couldn’t find yeast for months but when I finally did, I had to try this recipe I found on One Good Thing.
I always had a desire to make my own bread but never felt like trying. It seemed so difficult but once I was on furlough at the start of COVID-19, I decided to get baking. This recipe really is so easy and requires NO kneading – a win in my book with my achy old lady wrists. And let’s be honest, there is nothing better than warm, homemade bread slathered with vegan butter. Mmm, so good!
This recipe really is great for beginners if you’re looking to try an easy way to work your way into bread making.
So how do you make this bread?
First you start by whisking the flour, salt, and yeast together in a medium bowl. Then add the water to this mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Mix the dough and form into a ball. For an extra flavor, you can also add rosemary or thyme in the dry mixture before adding water.
Transfer the dough ball into a large ungreased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Then you have to let the dough rise for about 12-18 hours or until you see the surface covered in bubbles and the dough has doubled in size.
Easy right? Basically, I make this dough at night after dinner, cover it, let it sit overnight, and bake the next morning/afternoon.
Once your dough is ready it’s time to bake. First take your Dutch oven (see below for alternatives if you don’t have a Dutch oven), place in your oven and turn it on to 450°F and let the Dutch oven warm up for 30-minutes.
While your Dutch oven is warming up, transfer your dough to a floured surface. You want to take the dough and fold the outer edges of the dough under to form a smooth, rounded ball of dough. You do not need to knead or work the dough too much. You just want to form a smooth ball.
Place the dough on a large piece of parchment paper and dust with flour. Let the dough rest for at least 15 minutes.
Then use a sharp knife to score an X into the top of the dough. Finally, sprinkle a little water on the top of the dough, either using a spray bottle or get your hands wet and drizzle water on top.
Finally remove your preheated Dutch oven and place the parchment paper with dough inside. Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 30-minutes.
After 30-minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until you see a nice golden-brown color. Allow to cool for about 30-minutes before slicing and buttering.
Seriously, an easy and yummy bread. Enjoy friends.
Peace & Love,
Nikki
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Ingredients
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp salt
½ tsp active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
Instructions
First whisk the flour, salt, and yeast together in a medium bowl.
Slowly add the water to the dry mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Mix the dough in the bowl and form into a ball.
Transfer the dough into a large ungreased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature to rise for 12-18 hours or until the dough has doubled in size and has bubbles on the surface.
When your dough is ready, place a Dutch oven in your oven and turn it on to 450°F. Let the Dutch oven warm up for 30-minutes.
While the oven is warming, transfer the dough to a floured surface and using your hands, fold the corners of the dough under to form a smooth ball. Place dough on a piece of parchment paper, dust with flour, and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Using a sharp knife, cut an X-shape into the top of the dough and sprinkle a little water on the top of the dough.
Remove the preheated Dutch oven from your oven and place the parchment paper with dough inside. Cover with the lid and bake for 30-minutes.
After 30-minutes of baking, remove lid and bake the bread for an additional 10-15-minutes or until the top has a nice brown color.
Allow to cool for 30-minutes before slicing.
Food for Thought:
If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can use a deep enameled stoneware baking dish and cover with foil.
If you want to add a savory flavor, add about 1-2 teaspoons of garlic, rosemary or thyme to the dry ingredients before adding water in the first steps.
