Certainly! Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for homemade bread. This recipe makes a classic white bread, but you can always experiment by adding whole wheat flour or other grains for a variation in flavor and texture.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (around 110°F or 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
Instructions:
- Activate the yeast:
- In a small bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until it becomes frothy.
- Mix the dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the activated yeast mixture and olive oil.
- Mix until the dough starts to come together.
- Knead the dough:
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can add a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky.
- First rise:
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the loaf:
- Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a floured surface.
- Shape it into a loaf and place it in a greased loaf pan.
- Second rise:
- Cover the loaf with a damp cloth and let it rise for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until it rises just above the edge of the pan.
- Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake:
- Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool:
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Enjoy your delicious homemade bread! You can customize this recipe by adding seeds, nuts, or herbs for extra flavor and texture.
