Description
Rustic farmhouse loaf brings warmth of countryside kitchens straight to your table. Golden-crusted bread with hearty texture delivers simple, soul-satisfying comfort you’ll savor with every slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 600 grams (21.2 ounces) very strong white bread flour
- 350 milliliters (11.8 fluid ounces) tepid water
- 50 grams (1.8 ounces) softened butter
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1.5 teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients including flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a spacious mixing vessel, then incorporate softened butter.
- Create a central depression in the mixture and gradually introduce water, stirring until a cohesive dough forms.
- Vigorously knead the dough for 10-12 minutes by hand or 8-10 minutes using a stand mixer until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, ensuring complete surface coverage, then drape with a clean kitchen towel.
- Allow dough to proof in a warm environment for approximately 1.5 hours, or until volume has doubled.
- Gently deflate the risen dough and shape into a uniform loaf configuration.
- Position the shaped dough into a greased loaf tin, covering loosely to prevent surface drying.
- Permit second fermentation for 45 minutes until dough has visibly expanded.
- Heat oven to 230°C, positioning an empty metal tray on the bottom rack.
- Score the loaf’s surface with a sharp blade, dust lightly with flour.
- Pour boiling water into the preheated metal tray to generate steam.
- Bake initially at 230°C for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 200°C for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack, allowing complete cooling before slicing.
Notes
- Flour substitution works great with whole wheat or gluten-free blends for dietary needs.
- Precise water temperature around 110-115°F ensures active yeast without killing it.
- Use a dough scraper to knead efficiently and prevent sticky mess on surfaces.
- Overnight cold fermentation in refrigerator enhances flavor complexity and develops deeper bread texture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 22-37 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 179 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 298 mg
- Fat: 3.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.7 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 5.9 g
- Cholesterol: 11 mg