Homemade bread: the easy, simple, and healthy recipe to get started
Making homemade bread is one of the most rewarding and genuine experiences you can have in the kitchen.
With a few natural ingredients and a good dose of love, you can bake healthy, fragrant, and aromatic bread, perfect for any occasion.
You don’t need chef skills or special equipment: just flour, water, yeast, salt… and a bit of patience!
In this article, I will guide you step by step in preparing a simple bread that is also delicious, ideal even for beginners. It is an easy recipe designed for those who want to start making bread at home without stress, achieving applause-worthy results.
Making homemade bread is not just a fad, but a conscious choice to eat better, save money, and rediscover the authentic flavors of the past. Also, you will always know what goes into your bread: only healthy and genuine ingredients.
If you are looking for an easy recipe for simple and healthy bread, you are in the right place. Get your hands (and the oven) ready: the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread awaits you!
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 5 Hours
- Preparation time: 1 Hour
- Portions: 1 Loaf
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 208.07 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 44.96 (g) of which sugars 1.90 (g)
- Proteins 7.87 (g)
- Fat 0.72 (g) of which saturated 0.05 (g)of which unsaturated 0.13 (g)
- Fibers 1.35 (g)
- Sodium 778.27 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 50 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Homemade Bread
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- as needed semolina
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 packet active dry yeast (or 10 g of fresh yeast)
- 1 tsp sugar
Tools for Homemade Bread
- 1 Mixer Mixer
- 1 Dough Scraper dough scraper
Steps for Homemade Bread
1. In the mixer, pour all the flour, the dry yeast, the sugar, and half of the water.
2. Start working the dough hook. Once the water is initially absorbed, add the salt and the remaining water. Let the mixer work until all the water is incorporated.
3. Dust the work surface with semolina and pour the dough. Without working it too much, use a dough scraper to make 4 folds, each side bringing the dough to the center. Cover with a lid and let it rest for an hour.
4. After an hour, make another four folds and cover again. Let it rest for another hour. Repeat the operation twice more with the same interval.
5. At this point, shape a loaf (or two smaller ones) and make a central cut with a knife or scissors.
6. Bake in the oven at 430 degrees Fahrenheit in static mode, for the first 10 minutes on the bottom of the oven and for the remaining minutes in the middle of the oven. Let a nice brown crust form.
Now we can remove it from the oven and wait a few minutes before slicing. The aroma will be irresistible.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How to store homemade bread to keep it fresh longer?
To best preserve your homemade bread, wrap it in a cotton cloth or a paper bag, then place it in a cool, dry place, away from direct light. This way, the bread will stay soft and fragrant for 2-3 days. Avoid plastic, which retains moisture and promotes mold growth. If you want an even more effective solution, you can use a wooden or ceramic bread box.
Can homemade bread be frozen?
Yes, homemade bread can be easily frozen! Once it has completely cooled, slice it (if you want portions ready to use) and wrap it in plastic wrap or a freezer-safe food bag. It keeps perfectly for up to 2-3 months. To enjoy it as freshly baked, just heat the slices in the oven or toaster for a few minutes.
