No Knead Crusty Bread

This is an incredible effortless artisan style crusty bread to make. The method used is perfect for everybody and is a wonderful way to start baking with yeast. All you have to do is stir the ingredients together in a bowl (no kneading involved) and leave the dough to rest, shape the dough, bake and enjoy a magnificent home made delicious crusty bread.

Ingredients make 2 small loaves

375 ml lukewarm water (40ºC)

435 g bread flour

8 g salt

1 packet yeast (7g)

Method

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a big spoon until sticky rough dough is developed, approx. 60 seconds. Cover the bowl with food wrap and allow the dough to rise for 2 hours at room temperature. Place the bowl in the fridge and refrigerate overnight, for at least 7 hours. Remove the bowl from the fridge and uncover. Sprinkle some flour on the dough, divide into 2 and mould into round balls. Place the dough balls on a piece of baking paper and sprinkle flour on top. Allow rising for 60 minutes under a tea towel. Preheat oven to 220ºC normal bake. Place a tray half filled with water on the bottom rack and place a baking stone on the second bottom rack. Cut some slashes on the top of the dough and slide the paper with the dough balls onto the baking stone. Bake for approx. 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow cooling for at least 20 minutes before cutting.

Note: If you don’t have a baking stone, use a tile or bake on a baking tray.