Artisanal Airy White Bread: Effortless Homemade Recipe

The Easiest White Bread Recipe in the World

Overview:

Prepare to embark on a delightful journey of bread-making with this remarkably simple recipe for white bread, sourced from Delia Smith’s culinary treasure trove, ‘How to Cook: Book One’. Crafting this loaf promises not only a treat for your taste buds but also a return to the artisanal essence of bread-making. 🍞

• Recipe Name: The Easiest (Non-Machine) White Bread in the World
• Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Prep Time: 3 hours
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 1-2 loaves (depending on size preference)
• Servings: 12

Ingredients:

Let’s gather the quintessential ingredients that form the foundation of this rustic masterpiece:

Instructions:

1. Preparation:

   • Begin by preheating your oven to its lowest setting, and while it warms up, measure out your flour and place it in the oven for about 10 minutes. This step enhances the flour’s texture and flavor.

2. Mixing the Ingredients:

   • Meanwhile, in a measuring jug, combine the caster sugar with water, filling it up to the 15 fl oz mark. Keep in mind that the water quantity may vary slightly, so trust your instincts to achieve the perfect dough consistency.

3. Creating the Dough:

   • In a large bowl, sieve the warmed flour and incorporate the salt and dried yeast.
   • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and gradually pour in the sugar-water blend, stirring as you go until the dough begins to take shape.

4. Kneading:

   • Once the dough forms, it’s time to get your hands in the mix! Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it vigorously for approximately 3 minutes, ensuring it becomes smooth and elastic.

5. First Rise:

   • Return the kneaded dough to the bowl and cover it, allowing it to rise at room temperature for a leisurely 2 hours. This step allows the dough to develop its characteristic flavors and textures.

6. Shaping the Loaf:

   • After the initial rise, transfer the dough back onto your floured surface and knead it once more for about 3 minutes.
   • Shape the dough into an oblong form and gently place it into a 2lb loaf tin, or alternatively, divide it into two and use two 1lb loaf tins.

7. Second Rise:

   • Let the dough rest and rise within the tin(s) for an additional hour, allowing it to expand and develop its final structure.

8. Baking:

   • Preheat your oven to 230 degrees Celsius.
   • Once adequately heated, slide the loaf tin(s) into the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the bread achieves a golden-brown hue and emits a tantalizing aroma.

9. Finishing Touches:

   • Once baked, remove the bread from its tin(s) and return it to the oven, positioning it upside down for an additional 5 minutes. This step enhances the crust’s texture, giving it that irresistible crunch.

Serving Suggestions:

Picture slicing into warm, freshly baked slices of this homemade white bread, each bite delivering a symphony of flavors and textures. Serve it plain, with a smear of butter, or alongside your favorite soup or salad. The possibilities are as endless as your culinary imagination!

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 210.4
• Fat Content: 0.6g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 196.2mg
• Carbohydrates: 44.1g
  • Fiber: 1.6g
  • Sugar: 0.5g
• Protein: 6g

Keywords:

Breads, Grains, European, Low Cholesterol, Healthy, Weeknight, < 4 Hours, Easy, Inexpensive

Conclusion:

With just a handful of pantry staples and a touch of patience, you can create a loaf of homemade white bread that not only pays homage to traditional bread-making techniques but also elevates your culinary prowess to new heights. So don your apron, dust off your rolling pin, and embark on a journey that celebrates the artistry of bread-making—one slice at a time! 🥖