Organic, 4-Grain Bread You Can Make In An Afternoon
Don't you just love the smell of fresh bread wafting out the bakery doors? What if you could make similar bread at home? This organic, 4-grain bread is a delicious substitute for authentic bakery bread, and you can make it in the span of a single afternoon. Spread it with a little butter and perhaps some jam, and you're set for a great breakfast.
Here's what you need for the recipe:
- 2 1/4 cups warm water, approximately 115 degrees F
- 2 cups organic whole wheat flour
- 1 cup organic oat flour
- 2 cups organic rye flour
- 1 cup organic barley flour
- 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 tablespoons white sugar or honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 egg white
Start by mixing the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture sit, stirring it about every minute until it becomes frothy and bubbly. (This will take about 5 minutes, perhaps 10 if your kitchen is on the chilly side.) Once the mixture is foamy, stir in the whole wheat flour. Then, pour in the canola oil, salt, and vital wheat gluten, followed by the oat flour and rye flour. When the mixture is uniform, beat it by hand for 20 strokes.
Dust a surface with barley flour, and pour the soft dough onto it. Knead the dough while slowly adding the remaining flour. Knead for about 10 minutes in total, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a bowl, and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl with cling wrap, and place it in a warm place. If your house is chilly, you may want to turn on a space heater to warm a room for the dough to rise.
Let the dough rise for about 2 hours. Then, gently press down on the dough to release excess air bubbles. Shape the dough into two loaves, and place each loaf in a loaf pan. Let the loaves rise for 45 minutes -- or until doubled in size. While the loaves rise, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Beat the egg white, and brush it onto both of the loaves of bread. Place them in the oven, and bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees F. Use a thermometer to take the temperature of the bread. If it is not yet at 190 degrees F, return it to the oven until it reaches this temperature. Let cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pan, and cool completely before slicing.
For more information, contact a company like Klosterman Baking Company.