Homemade bread is not only tasty, but also easy to make and inexpensive. This recipe does not require the use of a bread maker or a food processor (although the latter is advisable to make kneading the dough easier).
Ingrediants
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 5 teaspoons of sugar (or 1 1/2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 5 teaspoons of butter (or 1 1/2 tablespoons)
- 1 pack of dry yeast (or just over 2 teaspoons of fresh yeast)
- 2 and a half cups (up to a maximum of 3 and a half cups) of flour (preferably the one for bread, but any type of white flour will do)
- Corn starch or non-stick spray or oil to grease the pan (and prevent sticking)
Steps
Step 1. Grease the loaf pan with non-stick spray or oil
Step 2. Preheat a small bowl using hot water
Then drain the liquid.
Step 3. Put the yeast in the empty bowl
Step 4. Add 1 cup of warm water (38 °) to the yeast
Step 5. Wait for the yeast to activate
It will take about 10 minutes to produce the first bubbles. It will be ready to use when you smell the yeast and see some foam on the surface.
Step 6. Place the dissolved yeast in a large mixing bowl
Step 7. Melt the butter and add it to the yeast along with the milk, sugar and salt
Step 8. Add 2 cups of flour and mix well
Step 9. Add the rest of the flour a little at a time (about 1/4 cup) until the dough becomes slightly sticky
In the end it must come off without problems from the sides of the bowl.
Step 10. Move the dough to a lightly floured surface
Step 11. Work it by hand for 10 minutes
Place the bottom of the palm on the dough, compress it, fold it and repeat the process. For more information, read the article How to knead the dough for bread and pizza.
Step 12. Shape the dough into a ball
Step 13. Grease another large bowl with oil or non-stick spray
Step 14. Return the dough to the bowl and grease the surface of the dough as well
Step 15. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel
Step 16. Let the dough rise
It will double in volume within an hour or an hour and a half.
Step 17. Remove the dough from the bowl
Step 18. Roll it out with a rolling pin
Step 19. Work it to give it the shape of a loaf
Step 20. Place it in the loaf pan
Step 21. Let the dough rise again for about an hour
Step 22. At this point, cook the dough at 200 ° for about 30 minutes
Step 23. When golden, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool
Step 24. Done
Advice
- Also grease your hands (with oil or non-stick spray) to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers.
- For a softer crust, brush some melted butter on the surface of the bread as soon as you take it out of the oven.
- Try to turn on the oven at a temperature not too high (about 30 °) before baking. It works wonders.
- The dough must be very soft if you want to get soft bread.
- Add a pinch of sugar to the yeast and water mixture to help activate it.
- Preferably use fresh yeast. It is cheaper and you can find it in any supermarket.