NOTHING will bring your mates running into your kitchen like freshly baked bread.
In the restaurant game, the bread offering can make or break the start of a great meal. And in the last five years, the baking industry has lifted it’s game to new heights, with the number of artesian bread varieties available catching up to us back home!
When we talk bread we tend to think of the Italian ciabatta, the mighty white loaf or the French baguette.
But I know these days we are also soaking up our Brick Lane curries with a garlic Naan (that most of us never tried back home) or the delicious Berber bread (soaked with honey first thing in the morning) freshly discovered on that trip to Morocco.
The fact is, making bread is simple and easy and won’t break the bank. It will actually save you money and give you full brownie points with your mates. Try out these recipes and turn your kitchen into a bakery everyone wants to come to.
There is one last thing to remember: PRE HEAT THE OVEN BEFORE STARTING!
Irish soda bread
Irish soda bread is very easy to throw together and is a loaf that doesn’t require yeast or proving time (proving time is the the process which allows the dough time to rise and be worked and kneaded back before baking).
What you need
150g wholemeal flour
100g self raising flour
1tbls bi-carbonate soda
10g salt
75g runny honey
225g buttermilk
What to do
Preheat the oven at 180 degrees
Place all the dry ingredients into a bowl , make a well in the centre and pour in the liquids
Mix until it forms a soft dough (if the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl add a small amount of flour)
Take a lined baking tray and place the dough onto the tray and form into a loaf shape for baking
Take a sharp knife and slash small slice on the surface of the loaf
Bake for around 45 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom of the loaf
Focaccia bread
The good old classic Focaccia cannot be left out of this week’s feature. Nothing beats the taste of the sea slat and the smell of the rosemary filling the house. This is a great bread for making sandwiches the next day or dipping in olive oil and balsamic fresh out of the oven.
What you need
500g strong bread flour
20g semolina coarse
15g yeast
10g salt
50g olive oil
320g water
4 tblsp olive oil
½ cup of pitted and sliced green olives
Rosemary
Rock salt
What to do
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Mix flour, semolina and yeast
Add salt, olive oil, water and half of the green olives but reserve a small amount to sprinkle on top Knead on a clean, non floured surface for 10-15 minutes
Place in a floured bowl for an hour in a warm place until it doubles in size
Place the dough into an oiled pan/tray and prod out
Drizzle the olive oil over the top
Cover with a tea towel and leave to rest for 45 minutes
Prod again and rest again for 30 minutes
Prick the dough with the rosemary, sprinkle on the rock salt, remaining green olives and put in the oven
Turn the oven down to 220 and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown
Naan bread
Taking things over to the other side of the world, here is one of my favourite naan bread recipes. It makes me want a curry just thinking about it!
What you need
250g/9oz plain flour
2 tsp castor sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp of baking flour
110-130 mL milk
2 tbs of vegetable oil
What to do
To prepare the dough, sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into a bowl
Mix the milk and oil together in a cup and pour into the bowl
Bring the flour together to form a smooth dough. Knead well and add extra flour if the ball is too sticky
Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel
Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes
Divide the dough into 4 balls and allow to rest once again
Preheat the grill to medium and place a heavy baking sheet on the upper shelf of the grill to heat up
Take the naan and roll out the breads to the traditional tear shape and sprinkle over your favorite topping, dried chili, garlic or just plain naan
Place the dough onto the heated tray and grill until the bread is a light brown color
To finish, brush the breads with a little salted butter before serving
For an extra garlicky taste – you can add chopped garlic to the naan during the cooking process and sprinkle fresh coriander when it comes out of the grill
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @ChrisArkOnFood for foodie updates and updates from the many food markets around London.
