Homemade white bread

Hi All

Suddenly i got interested in baking. i have tried this easy method of making white bread at home. Believe me once your family taste this home baked bread they will never want to have bakery bread.

2 cups all-purpose flour / maida
1/2 tbsp (1.5 tsp) yeast (Active dry yeast)
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 tsp Salt
Olive oil or butter to grease

How I Made It:

1. Mix sugar, warm water and yeast together and leave aside for 10-12 mins until the mixture froths.
2. Mix in the flour and salt and knead gently for 2-3 min.
Take out the dough on your greased counter top, grease your hands and start kneading with the heels of your palm.
Stretch the dough away from you, fold again stretch and fold and then give it a half turn.
If its too sticky try to grease your palm and the counter top with the reserved oil.
If needed add in more oil. Don’t add any more flour that will make the bread heavy.
Keep on kneading till the dough feels dry to touch but is soft and supple. It should spring back when poked (about 7-8 minutes).
When done gather the dough in a ball and place in a greased bowl with enough space to let it rise.
Lightly oil the dough too to prevent it from sticking. Cover with cling film and place it in a warm place.let it rise for 1-2 hour or till its double in size
After the first proofing take out the dough carefully on the counter top. Fold it on itself 7-8 times to release the air trapped in it.
Give it any shape you want and neatly tuck the loose ends underneath to give a nice smooth surface on top. Lightly oil the top, cover and again let it rise till it doubles in size.
Towards the end of the second rise, preheat the oven at 190C and bake the bread. For free standing loaf, braided bread or bread tin loaf bake it for 45 minutes or until the top is golden.
If the top browns fast, loosely cover it with foil after 20-30 minutes and bake for the rest of the time. Every oven acts differently and you should be the best judge. But my submission would be to keep an eye after the first 30 minutes. Once the bread is baked take it out from the oven and brush the top with butter or olive oil for a softer crust. Let it cool for 5 minutes and then cool on wire rack. This is very important otherwise the steam would not escape and you will end up with soggy bottoms. Once it cools down completely, slice with a long serrated knife Hope this is clear.

Working with yeast is too tricky. If the froth doesn't come well urn bread will not rise n waste of efforts. Get good dry active yeast.

Hope you would try and give me your feedback.

Will try whole wheat bread soon and post the recipe too.

Kirti

 

Hi dinny

Thanks and my pleasure.

You can try baking in microwave it might take just 5min but i doubt the texture. Generally for baking, oven is the best or the convention model microwave.

Do let me know the result if u try in ur mw.

And yes will post wheat bread asap.

Kirti

 

Hi jayanthi

U must try this. U can make this in pressure cooker too. Gv me some time i will let u know the details.

Till then have good health n relish bakery bread.

 

Hi all

Thanks for liking .... And hope u Will start making bread at home .
This same can be make as bun with some variations. If any one need the recipe let me know j Will post it.

 

Hi dewdrop

Thanks for ur observation. Yes this quantity is not sufficient. U Will hv to add another 1/2 cup of lukewarm water to this. Just note the dough should be soft n not hard. Otherwise the bread Will not proof n Will not be fluffy.
Thanks again i Will edit the recipe too. And regarding honey i havnt tried so can't say for sure. But my suggestion is for the first time follow the recipe as it is cos this Will gv u confidence in handling yeast n may be the next time u can try with honey.

Do let me know the results.


Kirti