Bread is something that we all love. It has been one of the most prominent and major parts of our diet for centuries. It is high in nutrients and prepared with all-natural ingredients. It contains gluten as it is made from wheat, all-purpose flour, rye, or strong flour.
Baking bread is an art, but it is not as difficult as it seems; it is definitely worth a try. There are different kinds of breads available. The difference is seen in the type of flour and method of baking.
10 Breads To Bake At Home Like A Pro
1. Dutch Bread
To bake this bread, start by stirring the yeast into water and allow it to bloom until it is foamy. In a large bowl, mix all-purpose flour and salt after sifting it; make a well in the middle and pour yeast into it. Mix it well by hand till it forms rough flour. After the proper consistency is achieved, rest the dough for around 1-2 hours, let it rise. Give it a few pokes after it rises. Bring the ends in the center and cover it again, let it rest for 1-2 hours.
Take out the dough and sprinkle little flour on top of it and on the platform as well. Coat the dough with olive oil and dust it with flour. Cover again for an hour. Preheat the oven for 250°C before placing the dough. Bake the bread for 45 minutes. Bake it again for around 45 minutes. Let it cool down for a while. Slice it and serve hot.
2. Sourdough
In a bowl, mix yeast with warm water and let it bloom. In a separate bowl, mix wheat flour with salt, sifting it together. Add yeast to the mixture and some water till the dough has a perfect consistency. Cover it with a clean towel; let it rise for 12 hours. Take it out, punch it and sprinkle some flour on it and let it rest for another 4 hours.
Sprinkle some flour on the platform and on the dough, preheat the oven at 250°C. Score the top of the bread till then and place a lid on top of it. Bake it for 30 minutes, take the lid off and bake for 15 minutes. Slice it after it is cooled completely.
3. White bread
The given recipe makes 2 loaves. In a bowl, mix warm water with yeast, add a pinch of sugar to it and let it bloom. In another bowl, mix milk with butter and sugar, stir in the yeast mixture, use strong flour. Sift in the flour slowly, till it makes a stiff dough. Sprinkle flour on the platform and knead it well, fold it in and then out, repeat this process till the dough is smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl. Leave it to rise by covering it with a clean towel for around 2-3 hours.
After it has risen, punch down the dough and divide it in half. Grease the tin with butter before placing the dough in it. Cover it; let it rise for 45 minutes. Preheat the oven for 190°C; bake until the dough is firm and brown, which is for almost 45 minutes. Turn down the heat and see if it is done. If not, bake it again. Let it cool down completely, then slice it and serve it with butter or tea.
4. Rye bread
This is a variety of bread that has pecans and rye flour as a variation. Combine yeast and water, let it rest till it blooms. Sift strong flour, rye flour, and salt together and add butter and honey to it. Mix yeast mixture till it makes dough. Sprinkle some flour on the platform and place the dough on it. Chop up some pecans and add them to the dough. Place the dough in a bowl and cover it with a clean towel and let it rise for about 2 hours.
Take the dough out and knead it. Divide it in half and form into loaves. Grease the tin with butter, transfer the dough and let it rise for about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 190°C and bake it for around 45-50 minutes. Let it cool down completely and then enjoy it with maple sauce or honey.
5. Bread stick
Combine yeast, salt and water, stir and let it set. Sift plain flour in a large bowl, mix in the yeast. Combine it till it is smooth. Divide it into 4 parts. Place one ball in a bowl, cover it with a towel and let it rise for 2-4 hours.
On an oven-tray, sprinkle some cornmeal and transfer the balls onto the tray. Shape them into an elongated form. Leave to rise for 5 minutes. Score the top and brush with water. Bake for about 45 minutes for 200°C. Let it cool.
6. Cheese bread
In a bowl, mix yeast and warm water and leave it for 15 minutes to dissolve. Melt the butter, let it cool down, then add it to the yeast mixture. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and yeast mixture till it forms rough dough. You can sprinkle water if the dough seems too dry. Sprinkle some flour and knead it till it’s smooth.
Cover it with a towel and let it rise for around 2 hours. Take it out on sprinkled flour and add in grated cheddar cheese evenly throughout. Transfer this to a greased tin. Twist the dough while placing it to get a pattern on it. Preheat the oven to 200°C for 15 minutes then lower the temperature to 190°C and bake it for 30 minutes. Enjoy it when it is cooled down completely.
7. British Loaf
The dough isn’t supposed to be kneaded; this is the specialty of this bread. “Kneadless” to say, it is delicious! In a bowl, mix water and yeast. In another bowl, mix in whole meal bread flour with salt, make a well in the middle and mix in the yeast mixture.
The dough should be slightly slippery. Grease the loaf tins with butter, divide the dough into 2 equal parts and transfer it into each tin. Let it rise for around 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C, bake the loaves for 40 minutes till they are golden brown.
8. Italian olive bread
Traditional Italian bread that can be baked at home easily. You can use sliced black or green olives for this bread. Grease a large bowl with olive oil, mix unbleached flour, whole meal bread flour, and salt. Add the yeast mixture to the bowl. Add water and olive oil, knead the dough for 8-10 minutes.
Place the kneaded flour in another bowl greased with olive oil, cover with a towel and let it rise for an hour. Take it out again, knead it with flour, and distribute the olives evenly. Rest it again for 5 minutes. Grease the oven tray with oil, uncover the dough and brush with butter or oil and score it. Place it aside again for 45-50 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C, bake the bread for 35 minutes. After it is fully baked, transfer it to a rack, let it cool down. Enjoy it with cheese and wine.
9. Turkish pita
This bread is famous throughout the Middle East, Britain, and the USA. It is is easy-to-make, soft, and fluffy. It forms pockets in which fillings like meat, veggies, etc. can be stuffed and enjoyed. In a bowl, sift in unbleached white flour and wholemeal bread flour along with salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead well for 5-8 minutes till it’s soft, then cover it with a towel and let it rest for an hour.
Punch the dough and make even balls by dividing it. Place them evenly on greased parchment paper. Leave to rest for 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 230°C. Cook the dough balls one by one in batches. After getting baked, they will puff up. Let them cool, then cover with a wet towel to prevent them from getting dry.
10. Iranian barbari
These are Iranian small breads that can be made in any size desired. In a large bowl, sift in salt and unbleached white flour, add the yeast mixture to it and mix it well. Sprinkle little flour on it and let it rest for 15 minutes. Knead it for 8-10 minutes till it is smooth. Grease the bowl with oil and place the dough in it, let it rise for 45 minutes.
Knock back the dough and divide it into equal parts. Roll them out in a small rectangular/cubical shape, coarse them and, if desired, sprinkle some sesame seeds. Place them on a tray sprinkled with flour and cover them with little oil. Let them rise for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C and bake them for 15 minutes till they are pale brown. Serve them hot with keema or coffee.
Along with these breads, one can make naan and laccha at home. These are types of Indian bread—easiest to make. The breads listed above are baked and eaten on a daily account. It is slightly difficult to bake French baguette and brown bread at home. The breads listed here can be baked with half a day and enjoyed for 2 days; except for pita bread. Enjoy the baking process and the taste.
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