I started a loaf of no-knead bread last night before I went to bed. I knew I could get up this morning, slap it around a bit, put the pot in the oven to preheat and we’d have wonderful crusty bread for breakfast. I wasn’t disappointed. This bread is not for the crowd that likes their bread pure white with the texture of Vaseline. If that sort of bread is what you love, keep on clicking. This is rustic bread with flavor that has developed slowly all night long.
Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery in New York has made many of us re-think our approach to bread. I’m not sure about you but I grew up watching my grandmothers mix and knead and rise and punch and rise and then bake. I assumed that was how bread has been made for centuries. If you thought the same thing, then we’re both wrong.
You’ll find a recipe for no-knead bread in cookbooks dating back to 1897. It IS a much slower way to make bread and it does have a nice crust on it that many people aren’t used to. I love dipping this bread in good olive oil with a bit of really good balsamic vinegar and then a bit of dukkah. Food of the gods, I promise.
The bread has just a few ingredients and you mix the flour, salt, yeast and water in a bowl and then put the wettish dough into a bowl that’s been wiped with olive oil. Leave it in the bowl for 12 to 18 hours. Pour out the bread dough onto a floured surface and rest for 15 minutes. Then pull the edges to the center and turn upside down on a heavily floured towel.
Let rise for an hour to hour and a half. Flip the bread into a cast iron pot that’s been preheated in a 450°F 200°C oven and now the bottom is the top. Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes covered and another 15 to 20 minutes uncovered. Simple, eh?
That looks incredible. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that!
Love this bread! I’ve made it before and it’s just as easy as you explain. A little slapping around, and poof! Bread!
Great looking loaf!!
You showed that bread who’s boss!
I love love making this recipe, it is such a beautiful recipe:-) Did you bake yours in a Dutch Oven? Your bread looks AMAZING:-)
Hugs, Terra
Yes, heat up the cast iron dutch oven and slap ‘er in there when it’s so hot it will cook your fingers.
One MUST be careful when taking the pot out of the oven. Don’t feel the heat through your mitts and drop the pot on your glass cooktop. It WILL break. I have proof. 🙂 I am now the proud owner of a new cooktop and I’m very very careful taking the bread out of the oven and I double mitt!
Yummy! Might be worth heating up the kitchen for a slice of that…
What an amazing looking loaf! So professional! Thanks for commenting on my blog. I’ve added yours to my Google Reader and look forward to reading your future posts. And trying this bread recipe!
What a fabulous looking loaf of bread. I’m always put off bread making by the hours of rising, punching down and waiting around – this is brilliant – just let it sit overnight. Looks perfect, I love a crust and with the oil and vinegar – what more do you need? I may just try this – thanks!
Mary
I hope you DO try it because it’s as easy as can be to make. No thinking necessary and the measurements are forgiving too.
That looks fantastic. But your vaseline analogy, now that’s priceless!
I like your post.Since I was a kid I’ve watched my mother baking breads with so much effort with the traditional way as you’ve mentioned.Very nice post, at least I don’t need to copy the way my mother bake breads.
Hi ! I have been trying baking bread with every recipe I could lay my hands on.I just did with yours.And I am so glad I did.It turned out nice and fine.I’l be posting some pixs on my food blog shortly.I will let you know then . Thanks.Good day!
I have posted in my blog the pictures of the bread I baked (using your method)
http://variety-ads.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-loaf-easy-way.html
Lovely bread, I like the no-knead method as much as the traditional one… Both are great and have their perks 🙂
I’ve fallen in loaf with your bread here! Gorgeous.
No-knead bread has been on my list of things to make for a while. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’ve made this bread and it is fantastic. Definitely worth the wait.
Beautiful bread! I always want to make hard bread like this. Must be so good when it comes right out of the oven…
I love making homemade bread! This recipe looks delicious and easy. Thanks for the comment on my blog, look forward to your future recipes. Have a great weekend.