During these difficult times, Passion for Spices™ Team has put together beautiful illustrated recipes for you and your family to enjoy. Our first series is Classic Breads from Around the World, a three part series including Country Loaf Bread, Focaccia, and Flatbreads from Around the World.
Part 1: Country Loaf Bread
Ingredients
2tsp. Active dry yeast
¼ c. Warm water
4 ½ c. All-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp. Salt
1 1/2 c. Cold water
Procedure
Step 1:
Pre-heat the oven to 425F. Combine the yeast and warm water in a mixing bowl. Briefly stir and let rest for around 3 minutes.
Step 2:
Mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the yeast solution along with the cool water. Stir the ingredients until a sticky mass is formed.
Step 3:
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for approximately 5 minutes. Place in a lightly floured bowl, cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
Step 4:
Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for around 7-8 minutes. The dough will become smooth and elastic.
Step 5:
Place approximately 2tbs. of oil on the bottom of a large bowl. Put the dough in the bowl and roll it around until lightly coated with the oil. Cover the bowl and permit the dough to rise between 2-21/2 hours.
Step 6:
Turn the dough on to a lightly floured surface and “punch down” or depress the dough. Pat or gently roll the dough into a 1 inch rectangle. Taking one of the shorter ends, fold it over about 2/3 down. Giving the bread a quarter turn, take the end of the bread on top and fold it over . Then roll it up into an oblong loaf.
Step 7:
Lightly oil a loaf pan (9”x5” works best) and place the dough, seam side down, into the pan. Cover the pan with a sheet of plastic wrap, which has been lightly oiled, Let the loaf rise until double in size, around 1-1 1/4 hours. Place a pan on the bottom of the oven. Place the bread in the oven and pour around a cup of water into the pan. Then close the oven door. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the oven to 400F. Continue baking for another 30 minutes, or until the bread is a deep golden brown. Carefully turn out the bread from the pan and cool on a rack.
Enjoy the Classic Country Loaf Bread!
Compliments from Passion for Spices™ Team