To check, take it out of the oven and tap it gently underneath вЂ“ it should sound hollow. The loaf is cooked when itвЂ™s risen and golden. 20 Best Funky Bread Recipes 1) Tomato Focaccia (Live Love Yummy) 2) Julekake, Norwegian Christmas Bread (Outside Oslo) 3) Cheddar and Bacon Irish Soda Bread. Pour a little water into the empty roasting tray at the bottom of the oven just before you shut the door вЂ“ this creates steam which helps the loaf develop a crisp and shiny crust. Put the loaf (on its baking tray) into the middle of the oven. Use a large, sharp knife to make shallow cuts (about 1cm/ВЅin deep) across the top of the loaf to create a diamond pattern. Sprinkle some flour on top and very gently rub it in. Put an old, empty roasting tin into the bottom of the oven.ДЄfter an hour the loaf should have proved (risen again). Preheat the oven to 220C (200C fan assisted)/425F/Gas 7. This will take about an hour, but may be quicker or slower depending on how warm your kitchen is. Place the loaf onto the lined baking tray, cover with a tea towel or lightly oiled cling film and leave to prove until itвЂ™s doubled in size. Gently turn and smooth the dough into a round loaf shape. Use your hand to roll the dough up, then turn by 45 degrees and roll it up again. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knock it back by kneading it firmly to 'knock' out the air. Once the dough has doubled in size scrape it out of the bowl to shape it. Line a baking tray with baking or silicone paper (not greaseproof). This should take around one hour, but will vary depending on the temperature of your room (donвЂ™t put the bowl in a hot place or the yeast will work too quickly). This gives the yeast time to work: the dough should double in size. Cover with a damp tea towel or lightly oiled cling film and set it aside to prove. Work quickly so that the mixture doesnвЂ™t stick to your hands вЂ“ if it does get too sticky you can add a little flour to your hands.Д¬lean and lightly oil your mixing bowl and put the dough back into it. Do this for about 4 or 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and stretchy. Kneading in this way stretches the gluten and makes the dough elastic. Now use your hands to knead the dough: push the dough out in one direction with the heel of your hand, then fold it back on itself. Do this several times until the dough is very lightly coated all over in olive oil. Turn out your dough onto the greased work surface (make sure you have plenty of space).ДЇold the far edge of the dough into the middle of the dough, then turn the dough by 45 degrees and repeat. Use about a teaspoon of oil to lightly grease a clean work surface (using oil instead of flour will keep the texture of the dough consistent). Keep going until the mixture forms a rough dough. Mix with your fingers to make sure all of the ingredients are combined and use the mixture to clean the inside of the bowl. You may not need to add all of the water, or you may need to add a little more вЂ“ you want a dough that is well combined and soft, but not sticky or soggy. Continue to add water a little at a time, combining well, until youвЂ™ve picked up all of the flour from the sides of the bowl. Stir all the ingredients with a spoon to combine.ДЄdd half of the water and turn the mixture round with your fingers. Add the yeast at one side of the bowl and add the salt at the other, otherwise the salt will kill the yeast. Loaded-greens courgette, chive and mozzarella nut loaf for when youвЂ™re on the search for a tasty low-carb alternative.Put the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the butter. 2 splurge-worth bready bakesДЄ bacon-and-mielie bread recipe that uses a few pantry staples and bacon to up the flavour game. If the thought of kneading yeasted bread is a little intimidating, hereвЂ™s an easy how-to tutorial that will have you making this classic white loaf in no time at all!ДЄn easy brown bread recipe with caraway seeds and raisins вЂ“ the perfect savoury bake with sweet, flavourful pops from the raisins.

READ: Your one-stop guide to different flours and their functions in baking 2 classic bread recipes This no-knead Cape seed loaf recipe couldnвЂ™t be easier to make, and the result is a whole lot cheaper than store-bought seed loaves! Swap the basil pesto for a cost-effective DIY carrot top pesto вЂ“ blitz 2 cups of carrot tops with 1 cup of basil or parsley, 1 garlic clove, Вј cup olive oil, Вј cup macadamia nuts, and a touch of fresh lemon juice and salt. This easy 5-ingredient pesto soda bread is yeast-free and delicious. You can easily leave out the walnuts to reduce costs on this one. Yeast-free wholemeal Irish soda bread is loaded with oats and walnuts for a wholesome finish. And by crafty we mean itвЂ™s time to get baking! 3 no-knead bread recipes As food prices soar, so does the need to get crafty. The carb-loaded recipe round-up youвЂ™ve been waiting for вЂ“ home-made bread.

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