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Before we begin, I’m visiting family, so this week’s post is going to be simple yet satisfying.
Since people are cooped up, learning new skills, and doing more things from scratch, I thought it would be a good time to share this easy peasant bread recipe.
My grandmother, a wonderful woman and an absolutely tremendous cook shared it with me, so I knew it was a keeper. Anything she bakes or cooks turns into this flavorful experience that sends your taste buds on overdrive and your whole dining experience worth every bite.
Remember, flavor has nothing to do with a complex recipe. Flavor is ingredients and how they come together. So let’s begin.
Easy Peasant Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 packet instant yeast. You can also use active dry yeast but it will take a little longer to rise.
- 2 cups lukewarm water
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Add the water and mix until the water is absorbed and the dough comes together in a sticky ball.
- Cover the bowl and set aside in a warm spot to rise for one to one and a half hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat it to 425°F. Use butter to generously grease two 1-quart oven-safe bowls or a 3-quart casserole dish (for one large loaf).
- Use two forks to deflate the easy peasant dough by releasing it from the side of the bowl and pulling it toward the center. Rotate the bowl as you deflate, turning the mass into a rough ball.
- To make a single large loaf, pick up the mixing bowl, turn it over, and plop the dough into the larger casserole dish. To make two small loaves, use your forks to separate the dough down the center. Then, divide it into two equal pieces. Use the forks to lift each half of the dough into the prepared bowls. If the dough is wet and hard to handle, lightly grease your hands and transfer each half to a bowl.
- Don’t cover the dough. Let it rise on the countertop in a warm spot for 10 to 20 minutes, until the top of the dough just crests the rims of the small bowls, or is almost doubled in the larger casserole dish.
- Bake the peasant bread for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for 17 to 20 minutes more for smaller loaves or 25 to 30 minutes more for a single large loaf.
- When Golden brown all over, remove from the oven and turn the bread out onto a cooling rack.
- Store well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.
That’s all there is to it. Simple yet satisfying.
Have a healthy week everyone and be sure to let me know how your easy peasant bread turns out.
For another great bread recipe, follow A Tutorial on How to Make Sicilian Bread
-Heather Earles
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