Since it is neither kneaded nor left to rise, beer bread is quick and easy to prepare. It goes well with various dishes, especially stews. Read on to find out how to make the basic recipe and several ideas for modifying it based on the ingredients you have available.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Make Plain Beer Bread
Step 1. Get everything you need
The basic recipe involves a simple bottle of beer and some easy-to-find ingredients that you surely already have in your pantry. You can use any type of flour, from wholemeal to refined self-raising flour. Similarly, you can use both cheap beer and an expensive brand. Beer lovers can opt for a darker version, in order to intensify the flavor of the bread; but if you want a mild flavor it is preferable to choose a light beer. In summary, you need the following ingredients to make beer bread:
- 350 g of flour.
- 2 tablespoons of sugar.
- 2 tablespoons of baking powder.
- ½ teaspoon of salt.
- 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs (optional).
- 1 can or a 33 cl bottle of beer.
Step 2. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl
Measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and herbs you want to use to make the bread. Pour the ingredients into a bowl. Using a pinch of thyme, oregano and dill will help flavor the bread, but you can leave them out if you want.
Gently mix the dry ingredients using a wooden spoon and set the bowl aside
Step 3. Incorporate the beer
After mixing the dry ingredients, pour the beer slowly, avoiding the formation of too many bubbles. Use one hand to pour the beer and the other to gently mix the mixture. Add the entire bottle (or can).
Beer can be both hot and cold
Step 4. Stir until the dry ingredients are just moist and the beer is completely absorbed
Continue to mix the mixture, collecting residues from the sides of the bowl to avoid dry spots remaining. Stir until the flour has absorbed the beer. You should get a homogeneous mixture.
The mixture should appear slightly lumpy, similar to that of cornbread dough. It shouldn't have a diluted consistency like pancake batter
Step 5. Pour the dough into a loaf pan with the help of a spoon
It is preferable to prepare beer bread using a loaf pan. Grease the bottom and sides of the pan well with about ½ tablespoon of butter to prevent the dough from sticking. Then pour the mixture into the mold and flatten it on the surface with a spoon.
You can also use olive, canola, or any other type of oil you want
Step 6. Bake at 190 ° C for 40-50 minutes
Preheat the oven to 190 ° C and place the pan in the oven. Check it often to make sure it cooks evenly. Rotate the pan as needed.
Remove the bread from the oven when it is golden or crunchy on the sides. Insert a knife or toothpick in the center of the bread: if it comes out clean without any residual dough, then it's ready
Method 2 of 2: Beer Bread Variants
Step 1. Use different types of beer
The beer will give a slight yeasty flavor to the bread, no matter which one you choose. Experiment with different types and brands to find the one you think is best suited to making bread. Fruity or flavored beer might give the bread an unusual flavor, but you can use any variation you want or have in the fridge.
- Clear pilsners such as Budweiser and Nastro Azzurro are great for bread, as they are cheap and easy to find. The flavor of the bread will not be particularly intense, it will instead have delicate notes of yeast. If you have this type of beer in the fridge, use it as well: it will give you a good result.
- Wheat beers, such as Aldobrandesca, already have a taste similar to that of bread, and are therefore excellent for preparing beer bread.
- Dark beers such as brown ales, porters and stouts give the bread delicate notes reminiscent of dried fruit. They also make it darker.
- The cooking process removes all traces of alcohol from the beer, but allows to leave at least part of the flavor of the malt, sugars and yeast of the drink. Beer bread can therefore be enjoyed at any age: even children can eat it safely.
Step 2. Add about 1 cup of grated cheese
Beer and cheese go very well with each other. In fact, this type of bread seems to be made on purpose to be enriched with cheese. Whether it's hard or soft, any variation you prefer can be used for this recipe. Experiment to figure out which ones you prefer. Before being incorporated into the dough, the cheese can be grated or crumbled. Here are some ideas to try:
- Cheddar.
- Provolone.
- Gouda.
- Blue cheese.
- Parmesan.
Step 3. Add chopped greens and vegetables
Adding ½ cup of finely chopped raw greens and greens helps the bread rise. In addition, these ingredients make it even more substantial and flavorful. You can combine the following as you wish:
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Green chilli.
- Grated carrot.
- Grated courgette.
- Diced pepper.
Step 4. Add seeds to the surface
Try using the following technique before baking the bread. Brush some melted butter on the bread, then sprinkle a generous handful of the seeds of your choice. Here are some ideas:
- Poppy seeds.
- Cumin seeds.
- Mustard seeds.
- Sesame seeds.
- Toasted cardamom and cumin seeds.
Step 5. Prepare the bread using a cast iron skillet
The loaf pan can be replaced with a cast iron skillet. Place it in the oven while it heats up and grease it with butter. Pour the dough once it is heated to make the bread crust crisp and homogeneous. Let it cook for 20-30 minutes.
Advice
- Use only the following ingredients to make a super easy variant: 3 cups of self-raising flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 33cl can of beer. The steps to follow are the same.
- Try experimenting with different types of herbs.
- Add onion or chopped garlic to change the taste of the bread.
- It seems that cold beer allows for better results.
- Beer bread is great to accompany stews and can be used in place of regular bread.
