Makes 1 large or 2 small loaves
Ingredients
- 1 lb 4 oz (570 g) 100 per cent organically produced wholewheat spelt flour, plus a little extra for the top of the bread
- 1 level teaspoons salt
- 1/2 level teaspoon soft light brown sugar
- 2 level teaspoons easy-blend dried yeast
- about 14 fl oz (400 ml) hand-hot water
Pre-heat the oven to its lowest setting.
Equipment
You will also need either one 2lb (900g) loaf tin or two 1lb (450g) loaf tins, well oiled.
Method
Begin by warming the flour slightly in the oven for about 10 minutes, then turn the oven off for now. Next, tip the warm flour into a large mixing bowl and all you do is simply sprinkle on the salt, sugar and easy-blend yeast, mix these together thoroughly, make a well in the centre and pour in the hand-hot water. Then take a wooden spoon and begin to mix the warm liquid into the flour gradually to form a dough: the exact amount of water you’ll need will depend on the flour. Finish off by mixing with your hands until you have a smooth dough that leaves the bowl clean – there should be no bits of flour or dough remaining on the sides of the bowl and, unlike pastry, it is better to have too much water than too little.
Now transfer the dough to a flat surface and stretch it out into an oblong, then fold one edge into the centre and the other over that.
I usually knead it for a few minutes at this point although original recipe doesn’t say that!
Now fit the dough into the tin, pressing it firmly all round the edges so that the top will already be slightly rounded.
Next, sprinkle the surface with a generous dusting of flour
Cover the tin with a damp, clean tea cloth and leave to rise in a warm place for 30-40 minutes or at room temperature for about an hour. If you’re making 2 loaves, divide the dough in half before following the steps above and folding it into the tins.
Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C).
When the dough has risen to the top of the bread tin or tins, bake the bread for 40 minutes for the 2lb (900 g) loaf tin or 30 minutes for the 1lb (450 g) loaf tins. Adjust according to your oven.
When the bread is cooked, turn it out on to a cloth to protect your hands – it will sound hollow when rapped underneath with your knuckles. Then return the bread, out of its tin, upside down to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes to crisp the base and sides.
Cool the bread on a wire rack, and never put it away or freeze it until it is absolutely cold.
As you can see I’ve also made rolls using this same recipe!
Can be frozen if required – I usually slice before freezing
