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Easy rustic bread recipe maker

An easy bread recipe for beginners and lazy bakers - Rustic handmade white loaf

movementandnutrition.co.uk
A simple white loaf with the character and taste of a much more complex bread. 
From start to finish this bread takes up to 15-18 hours to make. But your contribution is only 10-15 minutes. The rest of the time the yeast is doing the work for you. 
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Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Proving time 12 hrs
Total Time 55 mins
Course Bread
Cuisine European
Servings 2 loaves

Ingredients
  

Starter fermentation

  • 500 g strong white flour
  • 500 ml warm water
  • 1/8 tsp dried yeast

Final dough

  • Starter fermentation
  • 500 g Strong white flour
  • 190 ml warm water
  • 1 level tsp dried yeast
  • 2 level tsp salt

Instructions
 

Starter fermentation

  • Weigh the flour into a large bowl
  • Sprinkle on the yeast
  • Make a well in the centre
  • Pour the warm water into the well
  • Stir with a cutlery knife slowly incorporating the flour into the water
  • When the two are mixed cover with cling film
    easy bread recipe preferment
  • Leave somewhere warm (around 20-25˚C) to prove for 12-16 hours (the warmer your proving spot the less time required)
    easy bread recipe ripe preferment

Final Dough

  • Add only the flour and warm water to the starter fermentation
  • Mix together with a cutlery knife
  • Don’t over mix – you just want to bring the dough together in a shaggy loose mess
    easy bread recipe shaggy mess
  • Return to your proving spot for and leave for 30 minutes
  • Sprinkle on the dried yeast and salt
  • Mix together with your cutlery knife
  • Scrape the dough from the bowl onto your kitchen table
  • Knead the dough for 4-5 minutes – Don’t overwork the dough. You're looking for some stretch in the dough. But your dough won’t be completely smooth.
    easy bread recipe bloomer mixed final dough
  • Return the dough to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave to prove for 30 minutes
  • Fold the dough once, return it to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave to prove for 30 minutes
  • Fold the dough for a second time, return it to the bowl, cover with cling film and leave to prove for 30 minutes
  • Handle your dough gently. Turn it out onto your table
    proved easy bread recipe
  • Gently cut the dough in two
  • either place each piece flour side up in a greased loaf tin
  • or flour side down on a baking tray covered with a floured linen cloth
    easy bread recipe bloomer ready on cloth
  • cover with cling film and leave to prove for 20-25 minutes
    easy bread recipe bloomer on cloth

Baking

  • Preheat your oven to 240˚C /465˚F. In the bottom of the oven preheat a heavy roasting tin
  • 5 minutes before your bread goes in the oven moisten your oven with ice cubes
  • If your bread is on a floured cloth, carefully roll it onto a greased oven tray.
    easy bread recipe bloomer tray
  • Scored your bread.
    easy bread recipe slashed bloomer
  • Put the bread on the middle shelf of your oven. (Be careful of the steam as you open the door)
  • Before closing the oven door, pour a cup of boiling water into the roasting tray(Be careful. This will create a lot of steam. Protect your hands and face from scalding.)
  • After 15 minutes your loaf should have started to colour and reached its maximum volume. Carefully remove the roasting tray
  • Don’t fully close the oven door for the rest of the bake. Leave it open a tiny crack to lat the remaining steam and moisture escape.
  • Bake until for a further 25-30minutes.
  • Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack.
    cooling easy bread recipe

Notes

If you're unsure of any of the breadmaking techniques in this recipe there are step by step instructions in this article.

How to make bread at home – an essential guide to baking homemade bread

 
Keyword bread, easy bread recipe, slow fermentation, traditional bread