I’m never buying bread again.
Alright, that’s probably not true. But this bread is so gosh darn good, and so easy to make. It only has three ingredients.
THREE.
It looks and tastes like you paid five dollars for it. But you didn’t. You paid however much three cups of flour costs. What…like 25 cents? The other two ingredients are used in such small quantities, I’m not even counting them.
Just mix up a few things before bed, wake up, push a little flour and yeast around, bake…and bread!
It truly doesn’t get easier.
Or more crusty-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside wonderful.
Baking the Perfect Loaf of Bread at Home
Formula and Process created by Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan St Bakery
3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
a little less than 1 tablespoon salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)
Equipment:
Two medium mixing bowls
6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic) *I use a dutch oven
Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
Plastic wrap
Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)
Process:
Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.
NICE!! We don’t eat a ton of bread, but I need something fancy looking to take to small group tomorrow…I’m thinking this bread and some olive oil!
I ate half the loaf with olive oil yesterday – that would be perrrrfect.
Haha, this looks so amazing, I’m pretty sure I would eat AT LEAST half the loaf in one day too!
you guys have “small groups” in CO..so cool!!! I know, I’m a nerd in NC
Lindsay actually lives in NC…kind of funny!
no way!! ahaha!
sooo wheres that recpe at?!?!
I linked to it at the bottom of the post, but here it is again. Enjoy!
http://leahnaomi.com/?p=2480
Didnt see a recipe…but did see a photographers site and her beautiful work.
Would also like the recipe too!
The receipe is waaaaaaaay down there eat the bottom of that site, here is the link again. http://leahnaomi.com/?p=2480 And yes, her photography is insane, I can’t stop going through her archives
its pretty insane huh.
ps i did overnight steel cut oats int he slow cooker. have i been living under a rock. i woke up to the smell of heaven.
I must try that! How much water did you put in with them?
but what if you just end up hungry an hour later, Katie!?
Hah, probably will happen. I’ll just eat again.
yeah for homemade bread!! nothing beats it
Yeah, it definitely does NOT get any tastier than that right there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way freshly baked bread makes the whole house smell.
SEVENTEEN DAYS FRIEND!!!!!!
Yes, the house smell is equally as delicious as the bread itself. 17, 17, 17…
Shut your FACE. I’m doing this.
Is this real life? 3 ingredients?! I’m in.
Haha, it IS real life.
I have just recently started making my own bread after fearing the process for years. Now I am just a little obsessed with it. I cannot wait to try this thank you!
I’ve made bread before (well, a lot) but I think this is my favorite method!
Making today!
Katie!!
I look to your blog for inspirational photos of squash and you looking super fit – I have enough blogs I live vicariously through… staring at photos of chocolate cake as I attempt to shift these stubborn FOUR xmas pounds.
No more bread photos please, please please???
Thanks! Love, Em. xox
ps – it does look delicious though…..AGH!
My mom has made this bread for 3 years now. THE BEST BREAD EVER!!!
I’m very intrigued! Did you make any alterations to the recipe for high altitude?
A smidge more flour than the recipe called for – I just made my measuring cup overflowing on each addition of flour.
I have always wanted to have a go at making my own bread – this looks ridiculously delicious. I have already bookmarked the recipe
. Your photos just get better and better Katie!
if I make break…it all get’s eaten….like IMMEDIATELY…how do bread shop owners not all go out of business?
I could eat that entire loaf!!
goooorgeous photos, m’lady
Genius. That is all.
I can’t even speak….I am going to try to patiently wait for the weekend until I have time to make this. YUM!
Perfect for a teething babe to chomp on too
been thinking of this ALL DAY. me thinks i must make it tomorrow.
Me thinks you must too.
Did you use all propose flour? Ive never made bread but this looks doable.
Yes, plain unbleached all purpose flour (Bob’s Red Mill brand)
I have been reading your blog for a while and I always enjoy your imagination and creativity with food. Anyway, I came across this and thought it would be cool to see what you could do with it: http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2011/03/159/Overnight,+Slow+Cooker,+Apple+Cinnamon+Steel-Cut+Oatmeal
I want real bread!!!
I actually thought of you while making this!! I was thinking how sad I would be if I had to give gluten again (I gave it up for about a year, but my system magically re-set when I got pregnant…hallelujah!)
Wow! I’m making this this weekend!
I never knew it was so simple to make bread! I will definitely have to try this
I am totally going to make this for my boyfriend when he gets home on Friday night. A whole loaf of REAL bread to himself? He’ll be so happy.
Can I be your boyfriend?
This looks amazing, Katie! My little bread eaters are going to love this one
!
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Yumm! This looks amazing!
gorgeous photos. what camera do you use?
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