Tasty and nutritious: 3 easy bread recipes

Consumers hold a positive view of bread, according to a comprehensive review led by Ghent University in Belgium. Despite a tendency to consume junk foods, consumers consider bread to be a basic food product. It is also regarded as an important component of a balanced diet due to its high dietary fiber content. Plus, it is an excellent source of good carbs that aid metabolism, digestion and immunity.

Contrary to popular belief, homemade bread is quite easy to make, even for beginners. But if you’re somewhat of a bread expert, you can always try recipes that require a bit of skill and technical know-how. So fire up the oven and try the following homemade bread recipes.

No-Knead Bread

No-knead bread is not only convenient but also requires very few ingredients and equipment. It is also a perfect recipe for people with little to no experience baking. The preparation of the dough itself takes no more than five minutes.

Ingredients:

• 6 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups warm water
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt

Preparation:

• In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, flour, yeast and salt until the mixture is sticky.
• Let the dough rest in a warm area (near the stove or a preheated oven) until it doubles in size.
• Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of four hours. You can also keep it refrigerated for several days.
• Take out the dough and mold it on a floured surface according to the desired shape.
• Let the dough rest. It should continue to expand. As it rises, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When the dough is ready, make even horizontal or diagonal cuts across the surface. Transfer it onto a pizza stone or a cast-iron pan.
• Place the stone or pan atop a broiler pan to create steam as the dough bakes. Steam keeps the bread crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
• Bake the dough for 40–45 minutes or until golden brown.

Seeded flatbread

Flatbread is a type of unleavened bread that only requires flour, water and salt to make. It is extremely versatile, as it can be served alongside meat, chicken, salads or dips. Plus, you can also introduce flavor and crunch to the classic flatbread by adding various seeds.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup mixed seeds (sunflower, sesame, mustard, coriander)
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add the seeds and scallions.
• Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the buttermilk. Stir the mixture until a dough forms and you can shape it into a ball.
• Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Set the dough on a floured surface and divide it into four. Use a rolling pin to flatten out each piece until it is 1/8–1/4 of an inch thick.
• In a cast-iron pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add a piece of dough. Cook for about three minutes. Flip and cook the other side for three minutes more.
• Repeat the process for each piece of dough.
• Transfer the flatbreads onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle salt to taste.

Potato peel focaccia

This recipe introduces a clever twist to the classic Italian focaccia by using potato peels.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup potato peels
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons butter

Preparation:

• Boil the potato peels for 20–30 minutes or until tender.
• In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and yeast.
• Blend the peels and the remaining cooking water into a puree.
• Pour the puree into the dry ingredients. Mix until a dough forms. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap or a large enough lid. Refrigerate the dough for at least 12 hours.
• Use olive oil to grease two large pie pans. Separate the dough into two equal pieces and knead each piece into a ball. Let the dough balls rest until each piece has filled its pan.
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and drizzle the dough balls with olive oil. Sprinkle salt to taste.
• Bake the dough balls for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from the pans and let it cool.

There is nothing quite like slicing into a piping hot loaf of bread to start the day. After all, bread is not only one of the most versatile sources of wholesome calories but also a powerhouse food. Fortunately, homemade bread is not only easy to make but also ridiculously delicious. It is also extremely versatile, as it can be paired with practically any dish, jam or spread. (Related: Use pomegranate seed flour for healthier and tastier bread.)

Sources include:

IDEAS.RePEc.com

SHTFPreparedness.com

Food52.com 1

Food52.com 2