Possibly it’s the wintry climate, however recently I’ve been craving straightforward bread-baking tasks, despite the fact that any recipe involving yeast tends to scare me. The exception to this rule is principally any recipe from Ali Stafford of Alexandra Cooks, whose easy, clear directions demystify the from-scratch course of in a deeply motivating means — take a look at her bowl bread in case you don’t consider me.
Under is a model of that recipe that you may make in a daily previous loaf pan. The bread is outstanding in some ways, however my favourite factor is that you may resolve mid-afternoon that you simply need to bake bread and sit right down to a heat, recent loaf by dinnertime. “Individuals suppose that you must spend days making bread to get a great crumb construction and taste and all that,” says Ali. “However you can also make superb loaf begin to end in three to 4 hours.” Offered.
Peasant Bread Sandwich Loaf
Makes 1 loaf
“My mom’s peasant bread continues to be my favourite, best bread to make. It is a easy variation, tailored to yield one standard-sized loaf pan, an important form for each sandwiches and toast. (Yow will discover notes beneath the recipe that handle utilizing entire wheat flour, doubling the recipe, and storing the bread.) For finest outcomes, measure with a scale. It should go away you with a scrumptious loaf of bread, golden-crusted, soft-crumbed, excellent for smearing with good, salted butter.”
3 cups (384 g) bread flour or all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons (5 g) prompt yeast, see notes if utilizing lively dry
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons (5 g) kosher salt
1 1/2 cups (340 grams) lukewarm water
Softened butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add the lukewarm water. Utilizing a spatula, stir to mix till you might have a sticky dough ball. Cowl the bowl with a tea towel and place in a heat spot to rise till the dough doubles, about 2 hours (or longer relying on the temperature of your kitchen).
Warmth the oven to 375F. Grease a 9×5-inch or 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan with the softened butter. Deflate the dough utilizing two forks or a versatile dough scraper. Pour the 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the dough and switch the dough ball to coat it within the oil. Switch the dough to the ready pan. Let rise till the dough crowns the rim of the pan, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Switch the pan to the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Flip the dough out onto a cooling rack and let cool for half-hour earlier than slicing.
A number of notes from Ali:
Dry-Lively Yeast
If utilizing active-dry yeast, sprinkle it over the lukewarm water and add the sugar. Let stand for 15-20 minutes or till the yeast will get foamy. Then proceed with the recipe.
Utilizing Entire Wheat
You may substitute some entire wheat flour for the bread flour, if you want. I like to recommend beginning small: 1 cup (128 g) entire wheat flour and a pair of cups (256 g) bread flour. Take note the extra entire wheat flour you add, the heavier/denser the bread might be.
Hydration Points
Relying on the place you reside, you might want to regulate the quantity of water you’re utilizing. It is a very excessive hydration dough, and in case you dwell in a moist atmosphere or if you’re utilizing a unique kind of flour (versus business, American flour resembling King Arthur Flour), you might want to scale back the quantity of water — the dough must be moist and sticky, but it surely ought to nonetheless type a ball. In different phrases, it shouldn’t be soupy.
Doubling
Recipe doubles nicely, in case you want to make two loaves.
Freezing & Storing
Bread freezes nicely. Let cool fully; then switch to an hermetic bag or vessel for so long as 3 months. To retailer the bread, let it cool fully; then switch to an hermetic bag or vessel and go away it at room temperature. All the time reheat day-old bread (within the oven or toaster) to revive the crust and crumb.
Thanks, Ali!