Basic Bread

Basic Bread to make at home!

Making your own bread needn't be a chore, there are plenty of quick and easy recipes around that take very little effort at all. Nothing beats the smell and taste of home-made bread, far better than over priced tasteless supermarket varieties. This recipe can also be used to prepare pizzas, roll out the dough after the first rising and top with your choice of toppings (do not rise a second time). See our pizza recipes.

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Prep: 15 minutes plus 2-3 hours for rising
Cook: 30-50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 500g strong flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1x15g sachet of fast action or easy blend dry yeast
  • 4 tbsp olive oil or Fussels cold pressed rape seed oil
  • 300ml luke warm water

Method

  1. Dough: Place all the dry ingredients into a bowl fitted to a mixer with a dough hook.
  2. With the motor running slowly drizzle in the oil, then the warm water. Mix until it comes together.
  3. Leave to knead with the dough hook for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover loosely with a tea towel or cover with lightly oiled cling film. Place in a warm place and leave to rise until double in volume (1-2 hours dependant on the moisture and temperature).
  5. Preheat an oven to 200C/400F/GAS MARK 6. When risen knock back the dough with a fist in the centre of the dough. Then lightly knead for 1-2 minutes. Shape as desire and place on a non stick or lightly oiled baking tray e.g. round cob loaf, plaited bread (separate into 3 equal pieces, roll out to around 30cm long snake each, join together at the top end and plate loosely, join at the bottom and fold ends underneath) or divide into 2 and roughly shape fit two lightly oiled loaf tins. Cover lightly with a tea towel, place in a warm place and leave to rise for 20-40 minutes until doubled in size.
  6. When risen place on the top shelf of the preheated oven and leave to cook for 20-30 minutes for 2 individual loaves or 30-50 minutes for 1 loaf. The bread is cooked when golden brown all over and the base sounds hollow when tapped.