Homemade bread recipe

The best homemade bread recipe

How to make homemade bread step by step Preparation time3 hours 30 minutesCooking time40 min

Ingredients:

• 750 g of strong flour
• ½ tablespoon of salt
• 15g fresh yeast
• 450 ml of warm water
• flour for the table

Anyone has the ingredients to make bread at home, but the trick is to choose the quantities well and follow the preparation process step by step. The idea is to make an easy homemade bread, but we want to obtain a quality final result. First of all it is necessary to clarify the difference between yeasts. The pressed (fresh) is the one that we keep in the refrigerator, while the dry one is in powder form. As a general rule, dry yeast is a third of the pressed yeast. In this case, you can substitute the 15 g of fresh yeast for 5 g of dry yeast.

To make homemade bread dough, the first thing is to activate the yeast. The water must be heated beforehand, taking care not to exceed 40 °C, since a higher temperature could damage the ferment. It is advisable to crumble the yeast in a bowl and add the warm water, mixing gently with a spoon to dissolve completely. Next, let the mixture rest for a period of 5 to 10 minutes in a warm place without drafts, until it acquires a foamy appearance.

Then, on a flat and smooth table, you must mix the wheat flour with the salt and build a volcano. In the center, you can start adding the activated yeast, to gradually integrate all the ingredients into a compact dough. It is important to put a little flour on the table to be able to knead thoroughly for 20 minutes or until the dough does not stick to your hands and feels soft to the touch.

In another bowl previously greased with oil, you must place the dough in a single portion and cover the container with transparent film, to let it rest for a period of 90 minutes. Later, you must knead again on the table and make a round shape, to let rest for 50 minutes. This time, you can leave it on the table well covered with a dry cloth. 

If you’ve done all the steps above, it’s time to bake bread. This process is divided into two stages; You must first preheat the convection, electric or gas oven to a temperature of 230 °C and place a container with water on the base to ensure the necessary humidity inside. Next, in a previously greased tray you can place the dough in the shape you want and put it in the oven for a period of 20 minutes. You will notice that the bread will rise quickly. Then, you just have to lower the temperature to 200 ° C and continue cooking for another 20 minutes or until it acquires a golden hue. At this point it will be ready, so you just have to turn off the oven and let it cool.