Hi Everyone,
● Do you like making bread?
● Are you intimidated by the traditional process of having to knead and proof the dough twice?
● Do you want to be able to make bread in an hour?
If you answer is yes, yes and yes. Then read on my friend!
I promise that this bread recipe will become your go-to bread recipe. It is simple, quick and easy. I know that I have written about the relativity of those three words before – simple, quick, easy – but I promise that if you have ever made bread before or kneaded dough for bakes or roti, then this recipe is exactly that.
There are no cons about this bread or the process; it’s all pros.
● The yeast does not need to be proofed. Instant yeast is used.
● There is no need to preheat the oven. Once
kneaded and shaped, place the dough into the
baking dish or pan, cover it, place it in the oven and then turn on the oven
heat. So, in literally an hour, you can have fresh, hot bread.
In terms of tools and equipment, all you will need is an ovenproof dish or pot with a cover. If you only have a dish but not an accompanying cover, don’t worry, you can use aluminium foil instead.
The only work you have to do for this bread, is to knead it for 15 minutes. However, if you have a stand mixer, then you really have it easy, just add the ingredients and let it mix for 10 minutes on medium speed.
Described as a basic table bread, I first saw this recipe a couple of months ago featured on a website – Shop.Cook.Make – that extols the delights of Puerto Rican and Spanish cuisine. We all take pleasure in the aroma of bread baking.
Even if you’re full, the smell of yeast giving rise to the dough that puffs up majestically, makes us hungry, even if it’s for just one slice. The butter that melts into the still warm, tender flesh… that’s a moment not repeated again until the next time you eat bread fresh out of the oven.
I invite you to indulge your senses by making this bread. When you do, please drop me a line at: Cynthia@tasteslikehome.org and let me know what you think of the bread.
Basic White Bread
Yield: 1 loaf
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white granulated sugar
3 teaspoons instant yeast
¾ to 1 cup warm water (110 – 115 degrees F)
4 teaspoons vegetable or canola oil
Directions
1. Add the flour, salt, sugar and yeast to a bowl and mix well.
2. Pour in water and oil and knead to form a dough.
3. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 15 minutes. If using a stand mixer, mix for 10 minutes on medium speed.
4. Shape dough as you please and transfer to a lightly oiled ovenproof pot or dish or pan. Cover the pot/dish/pan with its accompanying cover or with aluminium foil.
5. Place pot/dish/pan into oven and turn on oven to 400 degrees F and cook for 40 minutes (time begins as soon as you turn on the oven).
6. Remove the cover from the pot/dish/pan and let cook 5 minutes to brown the top of the bread.
7. Remove pot/dish/pan from oven then remove bread and let cool on a wire rack to room temperature before slicing it.
Notes
● The amount of water varies depending on your location.
● It is important that the dough be kneaded and or mixed for the specified time so that the gluten is worked and developed.
