No-Knead Bread: Practical and Effortless
Discover a simple and quick recipe for delicious No-Knead Bread, requiring only 4 ingredients! Perfect for both novice and experienced bakers, this homemade delight offers a hassle-free bread-making method that skips traditional kneading.
Just mix flour, yeast, salt, and water, let it rise overnight, then bake for a crusty exterior and chewy interior. Enjoy this freshly baked bread at home with some eggplant salad, roast cauliflower or this aubergine recipe, they make a fantastic combination.
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Expert Tips
Patience Pays Off: Let the dough rest for an extended period, usually overnight, to allow the gluten to develop naturally, resulting in a softer texture.
Preheat for Success: Ensure your oven is fully preheated before baking to achieve a crispy crust and evenly baked loaf.
Don’t Overhandle: Resist the urge to knead the dough. Minimal handling preserves the airy texture and prevents the bread from becoming tough.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This no-knead bread recipe is a winner for its simplicity, convenience, and minimal ingredients. Bread-making becomes effortless without the need for traditional kneading. It’s a perfect choice for busy days, and you can pair it with your favourite side dishes.
Since it’s homemade, you have control over the ingredients, ensuring a healthier option for your family. Plus, it’s loved by kids and low in calories, making it a crowd-pleaser. With its make-ahead capability, you can prepare it in advance, store it, and reheat it when ready, ideal for meal prepping.
Ingredients
All-purpose flour: The foundation of the dough. You can choose bread flour as well for a stronger gluten structure and better rise, especially for chewy artisan loaves.
Salt: Enhances the flavor. Use kosher or sea salt for optimal taste.
Dry yeast: Helps the dough rise. Instant yeast is convenient and requires no proofing, while active dry yeast can be activated in warm water before adding to the dough.
Warm water: Aids in activating the yeast, around 100°F or 38°C. Use a kitchen thermometer to ensure the water is at the correct temperature for yeast activation.
Variations
No-knead bread is a versatile recipe that allows for many variations and flavor combinations. Here are some recipe variations you can explore for no-knead bread:
Whole Wheat: Replace a portion or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier and heartier loaf.
Multigrain: Add a mix of rolled oats, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, or other grains to the dough to create a multigrain loaf.
Cheese and Herb: Mix grated cheese (such as cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyere) and chopped herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, or basil) into the dough for a savory and aromatic bread.
Olive and Rosemary: Fold in chopped Kalamata olives and fresh rosemary leaves into the dough for a Mediterranean-inspired loaf.
Cinnamon Raisin: Add ground cinnamon and raisins to the dough for a sweet and aromatic bread. You can also sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mixture on top before baking.
Garlic and Onion: Sauté minced garlic and diced onions until soft and golden brown, then mix them into the dough for a flavorful and savory bread.
Seeded: Incorporate a variety of seeds, such as sesame, poppy, flax, or pumpkin seeds, into the dough or use them as a topping for added crunch and texture.
Sundried Tomato and Basil: Chop sundried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves, then mix them into the dough for a tangy and fragrant bread.
Nutty: Add a combination of chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds, to the dough for a bread with a delightful crunch.
Spiced: Enhance the flavor by incorporating spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger into the dough for a warm and aromatic loaf.
Storage, how to keep your bread fresh
When it comes to storing Bread, it’s important to preserve its texture and freshness as much as possible. Here are a few options for storing your bread:
Bread Box: A bread box with a tightly fitting lid is an excellent option for storing No-Knead Bread. It helps to maintain a slightly humid environment, which keeps the bread from drying out too quickly. Place the bread in the bread box at room temperature, and it should stay fresh for a few days.
Plastic Bag: If you don’t have a bread box, you can store No-Knead Bread in a large, resealable plastic bag. Ensure the bread has cooled completely before placing it in the bag to prevent condensation. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag tightly. Store the bagged bread at room temperature.
Bread Bin: Another option is to use a bread bin, which is a container designed specifically for storing bread. Bread bins typically have a ventilation feature that helps control moisture levels. Place the bread in the bread bin and keep it at room temperature.
Freezing: If you want to store your No-Knead Bread for an extended period, freezing is a good choice. Let the bread cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped bread in a freezer bag, squeeze out excess air, and seal it. Frozen No-Knead Bread can stay fresh for up to three months. When ready to use, thaw the bread at room temperature or reheat it in the oven for a few minutes.
Remember to slice the bread before freezing if you prefer to thaw individual slices rather than the entire loaf.
Regardless of the storage method you choose, it’s important to note that Bread is best consumed within a few days of baking for the best taste and texture.
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No Knead Bread
Ingredients
- 500 grams bread flour
- 2 tsp fine salt 10 gr
- 1 teaspoon dry yeast 4 gr
- 400 ml lukewarm water around 100°F or 38°C
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour and create a well in the center. Pour 100ml of lukewarm water into the well and sprinkle the yeast over the water. Gently mix the yeast and water, incorporating some flour from the edges. Let it rest for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
- After 10 minutes, add the remaining flour from the edges of the bowl, along with the salt and the rest of the lukewarm water. Mix well until a homogeneous dough forms. You can use a wooden spoon or your hands for this step. The dough will be sticky and shaggy.
- Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about one hour in a warm place. During this time, the dough will rise and develop flavor.
- Once the dough has risen, lightly flour a surface and transfer the dough onto it. Gently shape the dough into your desired form, such as a round loaf or an oblong shape. You can fold the edges of the dough towards the center to create tension and a nice shape.
- Line a pot or Dutch oven with parchment paper and place the shaped dough into it. Cover the pot and let the dough rest for another 60 minutes. This second rise will help the dough further develop its structure.
- Preheat your oven to 250℃/480F.
- Once the dough has finished its second rise, use a sharp knife or a razor blade to score the surface. This will allow the bread to expand and form a beautiful crust during baking.
- Carefully transfer the pot with the scored dough into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on to create steam, which will help the bread rise and develop a crispy crust.
- After 30 minutes, remove the lid from the pot and reduce the oven temperature to 220℃/420F. Continue baking for an additional 20 minutes to allow the bread to develop a rich golden color.
- Once the baking is complete, remove the bread from the oven and carefully transfer it to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before slicing and enjoying your freshly baked no-knead bread.
- This recipe yields a crusty and flavorful bread with a soft and airy interior. Feel free to experiment with different flours or add extra ingredients like herbs, seeds, or spices to customize the flavor of your bread. Enjoy the delightful homemade goodness!
