Homemade bread bliss: Easy steps for bakery-quality loaves
Take out three items from your kitchen cupboards and be amazed that all that separates you from a homemade loaf of fresh bread is the dough rising time. This is an ideal recipe for anyone who has never tried baking bread before – it's incredibly simple.
Baking bread in the comfort of your own home may seem like a skill reserved for experienced chefs or professional bakers. However, the truth is that with the right recipe, anyone can create homemade bread that rivals those from artisanal bakeries, with a crispy crust and a soft, tender interior.
Why is it worth baking bread at home?
In addition to the unique taste, baking bread at home can be healthier and more economical. Without preservatives and additives, and with full control over the ingredients, homemade bread becomes a healthy alternative to commercially produced bread. It's also a way to relax and take a more mindful approach to eating.
This is the goal of this simple recipe – it consists of just four ingredients and doesn't require complicated equipment. It's perfect for anyone who has never baked bread before. The key to achieving a crispy crust is steam: place a baking tray with hot water at the bottom of the oven or use a spray bottle to create moisture in the room right after placing the bread inside.
Easy and tasty bread recipe
The ingredients are simple, and the idea is not to spend a lot of money or buy hard-to-find products. Just follow the step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
- 360 g of plain flour
- 230 ml of water
- 4 g (½ a packet) of instant dry yeast
- 7 g (½ tablespoon) of salt
Instructions:
- First, mix the dry ingredients: flour, yeast, and salt.
- Mix all the ingredients evenly and gradually add water.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it reaches a flexible consistency.
- After kneading, set the dough aside for 1 hour in a warm place, covered with a cloth, until it doubles in size.
- After the first fermentation, it's time to shape it. There's no need to create complicated shapes. Simply form a rectangle, fold the corners to the centre, and roll to create a cylinder.
- Place the dough in a greased pan and let it rise for another 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 250°C – the hotter, the better.
- Before baking, make a shallow cut in the dough. This will help the bread rise properly and prevent uneven cracking.
- The baking time is 20 to 30 minutes. If necessary, adjust the temperature in the last few minutes to achieve perfect browning.
See how simple it is? When the bread is ready, leave it on a rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing — this will give you a softer crumb and prevent the slices from "sticking."
