Embark on a culinary journey to master the art of bread making with a delightful recipe that promises to tantalize your taste buds. From the perfect blend of ingredients to the precise techniques, this guide will walk you through each step, ensuring your success in creating a mouthwatering loaf of bread.
Ingredients and Preparation: To begin, gather your ingredients:
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon dry yeast
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Olive oil
Instructions:
- Activate the yeast: In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of warm water with dry yeast. Allow it to sit and activate.
- Prepare the dough: In a separate bowl, mix 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour with the activated yeast mixture. Cover and let it rest in a warm place.
- Make the dough: In another bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups of warm water with sugar, salt, and the prepared yeast mixture. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, sifting it through a sieve.
- Knead and rise: Knead the dough until smooth, then cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Shape and proof: Shape the dough into a loaf, then place it on a parchment-lined baking tray. Cover and let it proof in a warm place for 2 hours.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 482°F (250°C), then lower the temperature to 410°F (210°C) and bake the bread for 20 minutes until golden brown and crispy.