5-Ingredient Artisanal Bread Recipe for Beginners

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers health benefits while being cost-effective.

sourdough starter

🥗Healthier: commercial yeast

💰Cheaper: none

Commercial yeast is readily available and speeds up the process.

honey

🥗Healthier: agave syrup

💰Cheaper: sugar

Agave syrup is a natural sweetener that can be used in place of honey.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option with healthy fats.

In a large bowl, combine 3 cups all-purpose white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour.

Add 1 teaspoon instant dried yeast to one side of the bowl and 1 teaspoon salt to the other side.

Mix the dry ingredients together briefly.

In a separate jug, combine 1 1/2 cups room temperature water and 1 tablespoon honey, mixing until the honey is dissolved.

Pour about 2/3 of the honey-water mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula.

Continue mixing until a dough forms that cleans the bowl, adding more water if necessary to avoid a soggy dough.

Cover the bowl with cling wrap and a tea towel, and let it ferment for 18-24 hours at room temperature.

After fermentation, check the dough for bubbles and a pleasant smell, indicating it is ready.

Flour a surface and turn out the dough, knocking out the air gently with your hands.

Fold the dough over itself and shape it into a round ball (boule).

Prepare a bread basket or bowl lined with a floured tea towel for proofing.

Place the dough seam side up in the basket, cover with the tea towel, and let it proof for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.

Check the dough by pushing down; if it slowly bounces back, it's ready to bake.

Turn the dough onto a floured baking sheet.

Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife or a bread lame before baking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens