Hi!
Today I will be showing you one of my favorite bread recipes.
It is so tasty and easy to make!
BE WARNED: I cannot be responsible for the sudden devouring of a whole loaf!
Seriously, the smell of it as it comes out of the oven will have you drooling.
It is hard to believe how simple this recipe is to make as well! It requires very minimal kneading, minimal ingredients, and fairly minimal time to make. But, the taste is far from minimal :)
Before we start making some bread, I would like to have a quick commercial break to show you one of my favorite items in my kitchen: the Simaxx baking dish
When I first started baking bread, I did not have a Dutch oven. I used to use an oven-safe pot with a baking sheet placed on the top to act like a lid. The point of this is to create steam to produce a very crusty bread.
But, I then got some new cookware that was not oven-safe and gave away my old pots.
I then was looking into Dutch ovens and realized that they were usually pretty expensive if I wanted to get a decent one. Although we did not have a strict budget, I still wanted to search for a more budget-friendly option.
And that is when I discovered Simaxx, a cheaper but still durable Dutch oven replacement.
I have used my Simaxx dish for over a year now, and I am so pleased with it. I have had zero issues with it. I use it mainly for baking bread, but it can be used just like a regular casserole dish. The nice thing about it is that it can withstand temperatures of up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit or 300 degrees Centigrade!
Disclaimer: This is only for baking purposes. You cannot use the Simaxx baking dish on the stovetop.
It is glass, so it is not nonstick, but I have found that adding a tablespoon or two of coconut oil to the bottom of the dish adds a wonderful flavor and crispness to my bread while preventing the bread from sticking.
I have used olive oil as well, but it did not have quite the same effect as coconut oil.
I have recently acquired a Dutch oven from a friend and I use that for soups and stews, but I still find myself using the Simaxx dish to bake bread.
In summary, I am very pleased with it and I highly recommend you get one!
Alright, back to making the bread!
I do not proof my yeast in this recipe as it is always fresh, but if you want to, here is what you do:
Add 1 Tbsp of sugar and the warm water to a bowl or measuring cup. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it proof for 5-10 minutes. Then stir the mixture together and continue the recipe as normal.
First things first, grab your supplies.
Mix the flour, salt, spices, yeast, and oil together in a bowl.
Heat the water on the stovetop until it reaches about 100-115 degrees F / 37-46 degrees C.
Add the water to the dry ingredients and mix until it starts forming a ball.
You can probably get by without kneading it, but I usually knead it for a minute or two to develop a strong gluten structure.
Try not to add too much flour. Use oil to prevent it from sticking if you can.
Grease a bowl with oil and allow the dough to rest for an hour.
It may not completely double in size; this is normal.
While the dough is resting, preheat your oven to 450 degrees F / 232 degrees C.
If you are using a Dutch oven to make this, preheat it in the oven at the same time the oven is preheating, and leave it in there for 30 minutes.
If you are using a baking dish like the one I mentioned above, smear the coconut oil around the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking. Do not be afraid to use quite a bit of coconut oil!
After the dough is done resting, punch it down and form it into a ball shape.
Score the top and place it in the Dutch oven or baking dish.
If you want, you can top the crust with extra rosemary and sea salt before baking. It adds a nice bit of pizzazz, although I usually do not mind eating it the way it is.
Bake with the lid on for 30 minutes and then take the lid off and bake for another 15-20 minutes, depending on how brown you like yours on the top.
Let cool completely (the hardest part!) and then slice and enjoy!
Hopefully you guys like this recipe! This is seriously one of my all-time favorites.
Prep Time: 1 hr 30 min Cook Time: 50 min Total Time: 2 hr 20 min
Servings: 1 loaf can be split amongst 4 hungry people.
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/3 cup of warm water (100-115 degrees F / 37-46 degrees C)
3 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp of olive oil
2 tsp of salt
1 Tbsp of dried rosemary
1 tsp of garlick powder
1/4 tsp of black pepper
1 packet of active dry yeast
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix everything, except for the water, in a bowl. Then add the water, and mix until it starts forming a ball.
*optional - knead for a minute or two.
Form the dough into a ball shape.
Grease a bowl with oil and allow the dough to rest for an hour. It may not completely double in size; this is normal.
While the dough is resting, preheat your oven to 450 degrees F / 232 degrees C. If you are using a Dutch oven to make this, preheat it in the oven at the same time the oven is preheating, and leave it in there for 30 minutes.
After the dough is done resting, punch it down and form it into a ball shape.
Score the top and place in the Dutch oven or baking dish.
Bake with the lid on for 30 minutes and then take the lid off and bake for another 15-20 minutes, depending on how brown you like yours on the top.
Let cool completely (the hardest part!) and then slice and enjoy!