Basic Bread - the Basic of the Basic

This is bread in its purest form.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 1 Loaf

Ingredients

• 350  g  strong bread flour, plus a little extra
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  easy blend dried yeast
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  golden caster sugar
• 200  ml water

Directions

1. 1. Lightly oil a sheet of cling film and butter the loaf tin.
2. 2. Sift the flour, salt, yeast and sugar into the bowl of a food mixer and mix at the lowest speed.
3. 3. Add the water and continue to mix.
4. 4. Increase the speed slightly and knead for a further 4 minutes.
5. 5. Place the dough in a bowl and cover with the cling film (oiled side facing the dough) and leave for 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
6. 6. Preheat the oven to 230C/gas 9. Return the dough to the food mixer for 1 minute on moderate setting (or knead by hand for 1 minute). Cover with a clean, damp tea-towel and leave them to rise at room temperature for 40-60 minutes.
7. 7. Shape the dough to fit into the prepared tin, sprinkle the top with flour and bake for 45 minutes, until the base of the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack and serve in slices.