The smell of homemade, freshly baked bread is a wonderful thing. It is a great experience to make bread yourself. Not only can you customize your flavor, but the recipe allows for perfect control of the ingredients. This easy-to-follow recipe will show you how to make delicious bread with a crusty and soft texture. See https://cumfacisa.ro for get more info.
Ingredients:
4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
Two teaspoons of granulated (ten grams) sugar
One teaspoon of salt (6 g).
One packet of active dry yeast (7 g)
One and one-third cups of warm water
Butter or vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons (30 ml), melted
Optional: Seeds, nuts, herbs or dried fruit
Instructions:
Preparation of the Yeast Mixture
Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a bowl. Let it rest for a few minutes until it is bubbly. It is a sign that the yeast has been activated and it’s ready to be used.
Add the dry ingredients
Combine the salt and flour in a big bowl. In the middle of your flour mix, create a small well.
Include the moist ingredients
Pour in the vegetable oil, or butter that has been melted into the well where the dry mixture is. With a wooden spatula or spoon, stir together the dry ingredients until you have a rough-textured dough. You can add optional ingredients at this time, such as seeds and herbs.
Knead the dough
Spread the dough on a lightly-floured surface. The dough should be kneaded about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can add more flour to the dough if it is sticky. But don’t add too many, or the dough will become stiff and dry.
First Rise
Place the ball of dough in a lightly-greased bowl. Let it rise on a warm surface, away from drafts, for 1-2 hrs. or until the dough has doubled.
The Shape of the Loaf
If the dough bubbles up, you can gently remove them by punching it. On a lightly dusted surface, shape the dough into a loaf by folding its edges in the center. Pinch the seam to seal it. Lay the bread seam-side-down on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Second Rise
Cover the formed loaf with a moist kitchen towel or plastic sheet and let it double in size for 30 to 45 minutes.
Heat the Oven
As the dough goes through its second rise, pre-heat the oven to 425degF.
Steam for a Crusty Crust
On the lower shelf of the oven, put a shallow oven-safe pot with water. It will produce steam which helps to create a crusty outer layer on your bread.
Baking Bread
Place the baking tray with the loaf on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for 25-30 mins, or until golden brown. The bread should sound hollow when it’s tapped.
Cool and enjoy
The loaf should be removed from the heat and allowed to cool down on the wire rack. This will take at least 15 min. After cooling, enjoy the homemade bread with any of your favourite spreads and your favorite dishes.