Baking bread can be a bit daunting, especially for beginners. But something remarkable about it is the use of minimum ingredients, ones that are available all around the world! The technique and other stuff can be perfected in time but the idea is to take the first step.
Everyone loved my Butterscotch Blondies Step by Step Recipe and gave good feedback saying since it was step by step, it made it look less daunting. A lot of people tried it even though butterscotch chips was not easily available where they live. Many of you wrote to me with creative substitutes you used and some even sent me pictures. That was probably one of the most encouraging set of comments I have ever received.
Anyway, after my first attempt at bread, I tried again about a month ago, but this time I decided to go for the normal bread, the one where you need to knead it. The good part is, the ingredients are very very simple and easy to get everywhere.
I hope the step by step recipe makes it less scary for people to take the first step 🙂 If you need to skip the pictures, please scroll to the end of the post for the complete recipe, in one place.
Simple White Bread – Step By Step Recipe
Make sure that you get some good quality active dry yeast.
1. Mix together 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast (1.5 tsp), 1 tbsp sugar and 1/2 cup warm water. Let it stand for 10 – 12 mins until the mixture starts to froth, like so.
If your yeast is not good enough or is nearing its expiry date, it won’t froth much so that should be a good indicator.
Also, this mixture doesn’t smell so good so if your husband or anyone else at home comes around saying “what the heck is that smell? what on earth are you making?”, don’t let that deter you. We can get back at them with the heavenly smell of baking bread very soon.
2. Measure out your flour next. You will need 2 cups of maida or all – purpose flour.
You can substitute half of this with atta or whole wheat flour if you want. Since atta is coarser than whole wheat flour, run it through your mixer once before using it.
3. Mix the flour gently into the yeast mixture with about 1/2 tsp salt, and knead until it all comes together. This dough will feel unbelievably silky. Sprinkle some flour while kneading it gets too sticky.
Ok, it may not look so silky or even smooth because I suck at shaping it out nicely and making it look pretty. But this is good enough, you will see. Make sure you rub in some olive oil (or butter) on the sides of the bowl to prevent the dough from sticking on too much.
Let this sit for an hour. You can cover it with some cling wrap. I didn’t have any, so I cut up a thin plastic bag and used that instead.
5. After an hour, you will see that the dough has risen to almost double its size and that it looks quite uniform and pretty, unlike the previous picture. Always let nature (or yeast, in this case) do its own thing.
Note: its still not going to smell so good but like I said, ignore and keep going.
6. The next step is to knead down the dough a bit, on a floured surface.
If you are anything like me, you will be a bit tired by now, with all the measuring and the waiting and the photography. So call in your husband, or anyone else you can boss into helping you knead. You don’t need to knead your palms off, just be slow and firm.
Make sure you interfere them while kneading and ask them to pose for a few pics. Its all in the game of bread-making.
PS: If you have a bread-making machine, then you fall into the category of people who I am jealous of, so don’t rub it in by commenting and gloating about it, please.
7. After about 10 minutes of kneading, transfer the dough to a loaf tray that’s dabbed with olive oil or butter on all sides. Don’t go overboard with the dabbing though.
I used a pyrex glass loaf tray, and I blame it for this ugly picture. Cover this again with cling wrap / cut up plastic bag and let it sit for another hour.
8. It will rise again to almost double its size, like so.
If you touch the top of the dough, it will be s-o-f-t. Resist temptation to punch it down and play with it. Its time to bake your bread!
9. Pre-heat oven to 200 C / 390 F and bake for about 20 mins. The crust will turn a lovely golden brown.
This, my friends, will be the best smelling thing you have ever made! Trust me!
My crust got a little dry, but you can dab some butter or milk when it just comes out of the oven and you should be just fine. I didn’t do this because I was too busy taking pictures!
10. Cut it into slices and store in an air-tight container for upto 3 days. I got about 9 slices so it didn’t last that long.
Here is the recipe again, all in one place.
Simple White Bread Recipe
Makes one 8″ loaf
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour / maida
1/2 tbsp (1.5 tsp) yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 tsp Salt
Olive oil or butter to grease
How to make Basic White Bread
1. Mix sugar, warm water and yeast together and leave aside for 10-12 mins until the mixture froths.
2. Mix in the flour and salt and knead gently. Place in a greased bowl covered with cling wrap for an hour, until the dough doubles in size.
3. Knead on a floured surface for 10 mins and transfer to a greased loaf tin. Cover with cling wrap and let it rise for another 1 hour. It will again double in size.
4. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 C / 390 F for about 20 mins until the crust turns golden brown.
5. Slice and enjoy!
We had this with some home made hummus when it was still warm, and let me tell you, the feeling that I created all this, was awesome!
Freshly baked white bread with hummus
Try it and drop a comment below, won’t you?
I have a bread machine, and I usually let that do all of the work for kneading bread. It's working on this recipe now. It does a very good job with baking the bread, but I prefer baking it in the oven.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Hi there, this is the 3rd time I try making bread and your recipe WORKS! Thank you!!! I love your pic's and sense of humor!!! Regards, a wannabe bread baker in Tel Aviv 🙂
Thank you so much wannabe baker in TA 🙂 You made my Monday morning!!
That won't work in this recipe. However, there are soda bread recipes available on many sites 🙂
can i use baking soda in place of yeast
can i use baking soda in place of yeast
can i use baking soda in place of yeast
hai 4 the very first time iam into baking and i wondered seeing ur tutorial. step by step instruction with photographs was very easy to understand and simple and i tried it immediately and got a good result and my husband too appreciated me for that. thank a lot and do post nice recipes. hi i used little butter for kneading and my crust was also good.
Thanks a lot Surajana. If you can take pics of the bread and email me, that would be great. You can find my email address in the "about" link on top of this blog.
Hey Anon. Do double check if you added enough amount of water. Another reason could be the quality of yeast. Make sure you use the freshest yeast possible and that you let it froth in warm water for enough time.
Kneading is also important. Make sure that you knead the dough well for 8-10 mins. Use some muscles to get that done! 🙂
My crust was a big dry too so I would ask you to dab some butter on as soon as it comes out of the oven. Alternately, you can give the top of the bread an egg wash before baking (beat an egg lightly in a bowl and brush some on the top of the dough before baking).
These are the reasons you could have gone wrong, do try again and let me know!