Description
This Rustic German Bread recipe yields a beautifully crusty and flavorful loaf that’s simple to make at home. Using basic ingredients like water, sugar, yeast, sunflower oil, and flour, the bread undergoes two rises to develop great texture and a tender crumb. Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying plain with butter.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 350 ml water (room temperature)
- 25 ml sunflower oil
Dry Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 8 grams dry yeast
- 500 grams flour (plus extra for dusting)
Instructions
- Yeast Activation: In a large bowl, combine 350 ml of room temperature water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 8 grams of dry yeast. Stir gently until dissolved. Cover the bowl and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Add Oil and Flour: Pour 25 ml of sunflower oil into the yeast mixture. Gradually sift in 500 grams of flour while stirring continuously to combine, forming a dough.
- First Rise: Mix the dough until it becomes sticky but cohesive. Cover it and place in a warm area to rise for about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Second Mixing: Gently stir the risen dough to release any trapped air bubbles. Cover it again and let it rest for an additional 30 minutes to allow gluten development.
- Shape the Dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough out into a rectangle. Fold it as desired and let it rest for 10 minutes to relax the dough. Then shape it into a loaf, boule, or divide into rolls as preferred.
- Final Shaping and Baking: Place the shaped dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Use a knife to make decorative slashes on top. Preheat your oven to 230°C (446°F) and bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool. Serve it warm or at room temperature, perfect alongside butter or your favorite spread.
Notes
- Ensure the water is not too hot or it may kill the yeast; room temperature is ideal.
- For a crunchier crust, you can place an oven-safe dish with water on a lower rack during baking to create steam.
- The dough can be shaped into different forms depending on your preference: loaf, boule, or rolls.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing for the best texture.
- You can substitute sunflower oil with olive oil for a different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Keywords: rustic bread, German bread, homemade bread, yeast bread, baking bread
