If there is anything that quarantine in 2020 taught us – it’s that everyone has become obsessed with making bread. Whether it’s sourdough and you have your own starter, or maybe just classic wheat or white, baking homemade bread is all the rage these days.
For most people, though, the bread-making process can seem extremely intimidating and time-consuming. The dough has to be made, then you need to knead it, then it needs to rise, then you need to bake it! I mean, seriously! Where does anyone even acquire the know-how or time to do this? Well – we have the solution for you.
This perfectly golden brown and crusty bread recipe requires only 4 ingredients, one bowl, and just a couple of hours.
This recipe is absolutely perfect for anyone who has never baked bread before or just simply doesn’t have enough time. And if you happen to have a sourdough starter? You can use that too! You can thank Mommy’s Kitchen for this wonderful recipe!
When you pull this bread out of the oven, not only is your entire house going to smell incredible, but the loaf is gorgeously brown on the outside, with a soft, chewy, and heavenly center.
This simple and rustic bread is wonderful for sandwiches, with soup, or even with a bit (or a lot) of butter!
Let’s get started!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast or rapid rise (or replace with 3/4 cup sourdough starter)
- 1.5 teaspoons of kosher or sea salt
- 1.5 cups of very warm water
Other items needed:
- Dutch oven or cast-iron Dutch oven with cover/lid
- Parchment paper
- Plastic wrap
How to make it:
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast (or starter), and salt.
Slowly stir in the water until fully-mixed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for around an hour. The dough will begin to become airier with lots of little bubbles.
Place the dough on a piece of floured parchment paper or a well-floured surface. The dough will still be sticky and wet, sprinkle some additional flour on top of the dough.
Using a scraper or your hands covered in flour, fold the dough over itself a few times (3 to 5 times), then form into a ball (make sure it’s not bigger than the Dutch oven’s diameter!).
Line another large bowl with parchment paper with cooking oil, place the dough ball inside, then cover with a towel. If you’d like to score your bread, do so now. Let sit for another 20-30 minutes.
As your dough is resting, preheat your oven 450 degrees with the covered Dutch oven inside.
Using oven mitts, remove the Dutch oven from the oven after it’s done heating (around 20 minutes) and remove the lid. Lift the dough out of the bowl using the edges of the parchment paper and place the entire dough ball, along with the parchment paper, into the Dutch oven.
Re-cover the Dutch oven, place back inside the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. The dough will turn a light, golden color.
Remove lid, then continue to back for another 10-15 minutes until the crust becomes a deep, golden brown.
Remove from the oven and place the bread on a cooling rack – let rest for 30 minutes. Then – slice and enjoy!
Seriously, though – does it get any simpler than that? If you’d like a video tutorial to help you along, watch another simple recipe in the video below.
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