Making whole wheat bread with chia seeds in an air fryer is a great solution for those who love homemade bread but don’t want to turn on the oven, especially in the hot months or when short on time.
This recipe combines the goodness of whole wheat bread, rich in fiber and with a rustic taste, with the properties of chia seeds, considered a “superfood” due to their content of plant proteins, omega-3, and minerals.
The air fryer proves to be a versatile and practical tool even for bread making: it cooks evenly, reduces cooking times, and ensures soft bread inside with a light golden crust outside. Moreover, it consumes less energy than a traditional oven, making it an eco-friendly and economical choice.
The result is a fragrant bread, slightly crunchy outside and soft inside, perfect to enjoy fresh from the fryer or to keep for the following days. You can serve it for breakfast, perhaps with jam or honey, or as an accompaniment to soups, salads, and main dishes.
Thanks to the simplicity of the recipe, even beginners in the kitchen can achieve a great result. Just a few ingredients are needed, a little patience for rising, and your air fryer: the irresistible aroma that will spread in your kitchen will do the rest.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 4 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 1.76 lbs
- Cooking methods: Air frying, Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for whole wheat bread with chia seeds in air fryer:
- 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 3/4 tsp dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp fine salt
Tools for whole wheat bread with chia seeds in air fryer:
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Pitcher
- 1 Air fryer cecotec
Steps for preparing and cooking whole wheat bread with chia seeds in air fryer:
In a pitcher or bowl, put the lukewarm water, chia seeds, and extra virgin olive oil, stir well and let it rest for 10/15 minutes.
In a large bowl, put the whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, stir well with a spoon, then add the dry yeast and continue to stir so it mixes well with the flours.
Gradually add the water with chia seeds and salt, at first work with the spoon and then with your hands until you get a homogeneous dough.
Transfer the dough to a work surface, knead it until it’s smooth and homogeneous, form a loaf and put it in the bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or the provided lid and let it rise for 3/4 hours, rising time also depends on the season, it will rise much faster in summer than in winter.
Alternatively, you can make a long rise by putting the bowl in the fridge and using it the next day, in this case, only use 3 grams of yeast.
After the time has passed (if you didn’t opt for a long rise), work the dough a bit more with some strengthening folds, then you can divide the dough into two and form two loaves as we did or make one loaf.
If you opted for a long rise, take the dough out of the fridge and let it rest for 30 minutes, form either a single loaf or two loaves and let it rest for another 30 minutes to reactivate the rising.
Place the two loaves or bread on a tray suitable for the air fryer, preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes, then place the tray and cook at 340°F for about 25 minutes (if making one loaf, increase by about 10 minutes), if you have only one resistance, turn the bread halfway through cooking.
If you opted for oven baking, bake at 355°F for about 35/40 minutes.
Let the bread cool before serving.
Storage:
At room temperature: it can be stored for 2-3 days wrapped in a cloth or paper bag placed inside a plastic bag to keep it soft.
In the refrigerator: for 5-6 days, always well closed in a food bag.
In the freezer: for 1-2 months, preferably already sliced, then before use, pass the slices for 2-3 minutes in the air fryer at 300°F to restore fragrance and aroma to the bread.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use a flour mix instead of whole wheat flour?
Yes, you can replace part of the whole wheat flour with white flour or other grains for a softer and lighter bread.
Can I use seeds other than chia seeds?
Absolutely, you can replace or add flax seeds, sesame, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds.
