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White Yeast Bread

Recipe by Rachel Allen from Rachel Allen Bake!

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With this recipe you can be as creative as you wish, from simple oval loaves to plaited masterpieces. Or make a whole variety of rolls, from basic round ones to more complex shapes: pretzel-type knots or, if you’re feeling particularly inventive, small animals – snakes, mice, even hedgehogs! Makes 2 loaves.

Ingredients

2 tsp caster sugar
425ml (15fl oz) warm water
2 ½ tsp dried yeast or
20g (3/2 oz) fresh yeast or 1 1/2 x 7g sachets fast-acting yeast
750g (1lb 10oz) strong white flour, plus extra for dusting (optional)
2 tsp salt
40g (1 ½ oz) butter or 4 tbsp olive oil
1 egg, beaten, and poppy or sesame seeds, for the top of the loaf (optional)

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Method

In a measuring jug, mix the sugar with 150ml (1/4 pint) of the warm water and yeast and let stand in a warm place for 5 minutes until frothy. If using fast-acting yeast, there is no need to let the mixture stand.
Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the butter and make a well in the centre. (If using olive oil instead of butter, pour the olive oil into the remaining water.) Pour in the yeast mixture and most of the remaining water (and the olive oil, if using). Mix to a loose dough, adding the remaining water if needed, plus extra if necessary.
Knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and springy to the touch. (If kneading in an electric food mixer with a dough hook, 5 minutes is usually long enough.) Put the dough in a large oiled bowl. Cover the top tightly with cling film and place somewhere warm to rise until doubled in size. This may take up to 2 or even (on a cold day) 3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), Gas mark 7.
When the dough has more than doubled in size, knock back and knead again for 2–3 minutes. Leave to relax for 10 minutes before you begin to shape the bread.
Shape the bread into loaves or rolls, transfer to a baking tray and cover with a clean tea towel. Allow to rise again in a warm place for 20–30 minutes, until the shaped dough has again doubled in size. When fully risen, it should leave a dent when you gently press the dough with your finger.
Gently (as the bread is full of air at this point and therefore very fragile) brush with egg wash and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds (if using), or dust lightly with flour for a rustic-looking loaf.
Bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes for rolls or 30–45 minutes for a loaf, depending on its size. Turn the heat down to 200°C (400°F), Gas mark 6 after 15 minutes for the remaining cooking time. When cooked, the bread should sound hollow when tapped on the base. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

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Notes & Tips

Slow rising gives bread an amazing texture and flavour, if you have the time I would recommend trying it. Use cold water instead of warm water and at step 3, leave the dough to rise in a cool place (or fridge) overnight. Then, when the dough is shaped (step 6), leave to rise again for 8 hours in a cool place.

Recipe Rating

What do you think?

Emily March 2011

could you use this recipe for a pizza base?

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Kathleen71 November 2010

i made this recipe of the tv show and if you dont understand the weights in grams then try to use a small kitchen scales that has grams on it it really helps get those measurments as the loaf is so yummy.

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shihaara wahid August 2010

i would love to get the basic simple recipe for chocolate fudge cookies with asian ingredients to lay the table with your bakings for this ramazan festival. thanks for the mouth watering recipes and i'm thankfull to my creator for the unusual taste buds i've inherited.

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shabana.shaikh March 2010

shabana.a.shaikh i always see your programme. i learn so much from you

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Jenny January 2010

can we use all purpose flour instead of strong white flour?

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Steven December 2009

Easy to follow?? I had a really hard time trying to measure out a weight measurement (g) of flour! The instructions are easy to follow but the terms are difficult to figure out what she means. Too wordy instructions. All in all a good recipe.

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- swandives July 2010
  
  I made the recipe with 5 cups of flour and it worked well (although I did add a bit more water as I prefer to work with a 'sticky' dough
  
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- Sini Anto April 2010
  
  I know, I have the same problem when the measurements are in lbs and oz.
  
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Zeeniya Zulfikar October 2009

Her recipes are very simple to follow, and really good. Plus the tips as well as her presentation is fantastic. Wish we had her programs everyday!!!! You really cannot afford to miss any!!!!

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GAIL DEVINE JONES July 2009

she is fantastic, her recipes are really simple and easy to follow...we're glad we can watch her in India.

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