Effortless No-Knead Bread
Discover a simple and quick recipe for a delicious no-knead bread, requiring only 3 ingredients! Perfect for both novice and experienced bakers, this homemade delight offers a hassle-free bread-making method that skips traditional kneading.
Pair this freshly baked no-knead bread with a variety of meals for breakfast, lunch, or dinner:
- Breakfast: Enjoy it with a low-calorie cabbage frittata, packed with veggies for a healthy start to your day.
- Lunch: It’s perfect alongside an eggplant salad or my bean spread.
- Dinner: Serve it with roast cauliflower or an aubergine recipe for a unique combination. It also goes wonderfully with spinach and pepper chicken for a satisfying meal.
- Dessert: Treat yourself to a slice of apple cake (more apples than dough) or a yogurt cake—both light and sweet!
I love keeping things simple with ingredients that create delicious meals. Sharing homemade food with my family always makes the best memories.
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
- Simple and convenient no-knead bread recipe with minimal ingredients.
- Perfect for busy days and pairs well with any dish.
- Homemade, giving you control over ingredients for a healthier option.
- Loved by kids and is low in calories, making it a family favourite.
- Great make-ahead option—prepare, store, and reheat when ready!
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: You can choose bread flour as well for a stronger gluten structure and better rise, especially for chewy artisan loaves.
- Salt: Use kosher or sea salt for optimal taste.
- Dry yeast: Instant yeast is convenient and requires no proofing, while active dry yeast can be activated in warm water before adding to the loaf mixture.
- 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.
Step-by-step instructions
Start by prepping your ingredients for this 3-ingredient bread recipe. Measure out the flour, salt, yeast, and lukewarm water. Having everything ready makes the process so much smoother and ensures your bread turns out perfectly!
A little prep goes a long way when it comes to baking a loaf!
- Mix the Dough: In a large bowl, create a well with bread flour. Add lukewarm water and sprinkle dry yeast over it. Gently mix and let it rest.
- Combine Ingredients: After resting, mix in the remaining flour, salt, and lukewarm water. Stir until a sticky, shaggy dough forms.
- Let It Rise: Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rise in a warm place until it puffs up and develops flavor.
- Shape the Dough: Flour a surface and transfer the dough. Shape it into a loaf, folding the edges in for tension. Let it rise again in a covered pot.
- Bake: Preheat your oven. Score the dough, then bake with the lid on. After some time, uncover and continue baking until golden. Let it cool before slicing.
A full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
Variations
This 3 ingredient loaf is a versatile recipe that allows for many variations and flavour combinations. Here are some recipe variations you can explore for this bread recipe
- Whole Wheat: Use 250g whole wheat flour and 250g all-purpose flour for a balanced loaf. Increase water slightly (about 10-15ml) as whole wheat absorbs more moisture.
- Multigrain: Add 50g of a mix of rolled oats, flaxseeds, and sunflower seeds. Reduce the all-purpose flour to 450g to maintain the right consistency.
- Cheese and Herb: Mix in 100g grated cheese (cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyere) and 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, or basil).
- Olive and Rosemary: Fold in 80g chopped Kalamata olives and 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Add 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 75g raisins to the dough. Optionally, sprinkle 1 tbsp cinnamon-sugar mixture on top before baking.
- Garlic and Onion: Sauté 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 small diced onion until golden brown. Mix into the loaf mixture after cooling.
- Seeded: Incorporate 50g mixed seeds (sesame, flax, pumpkin, etc.) into the dough. Use an additional 1-2 tbsp as a topping before baking.
- Sundried Tomato and Basil: Mix in 70g chopped sundried tomatoes and 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil.
- Nutty: Add 75g chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) for extra crunch.
- Spiced: Mix 1 tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg, or 1/2 tsp each of cardamom and ginger, into the mixture for a warm spiced 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. So I thought to mention a few options:
- Bread Box: Use a bread box with a tight lid to keep the bread from drying out. Store it at room temperature for a few days.
- Plastic Bag: Place cooled bread in a resealable bag to avoid condensation. Squeeze out air, seal, and store at room temperature.
- Bread Bin: A bread bin with ventilation helps control moisture and keeps the bread fresh at room temperature.
- Freezing: Wrap cooled bread in plastic wrap or foil, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or reheat briefly in the oven. 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 The loaf is best consumed within a few days of baking for the best taste and texture.
FAQs
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Indeed this recipe is perfect for beginners! Easy to follow and our bread turned out so so good. Thanks for another great recipe!
This was the easiest bread I’ve ever made AND it was delicious!!! I’ll be making it again soon!
I had no idea bread can be this easy! No kneading, no fuss. It made my house smell amazing, too.
I have wasted so many ingredients on homemade bread recipes that failed. This is SO easy and come out perfect every time.
Homemade bread is one of my favourite things, and this is a delicious, simple recipe that produces the most perfect bread. I will make it again – thank you!
This bread is awesome! So easy to make and really quick (for bread) 😀 ! I’ll try it out this weekend! Thank you!
I love no knead bread, just because it’s so easy to prepare. The crust with the airy inside are just perfect. Thank you for sharing!