No Knead Peasant Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and yeast. Add the water and stir with a stiff rubber spatula until combined and there are no longer bits of flour, 20 to 30 seconds. (It will be very sticky.) Cover with plastic and let sit on the counter at room temperature overnight, 12 to 18 hours.
• Remove the plastic cover and smell the funky fermented aroma and appreciate the bubbles. Sprinkle one-third of the salami and chives over the top. Using a rubber spatula, fold the outside of the dough over the salami to cover. Repeat this process two more times until all of the salami and chives are folded in.
• Lay a piece of parchment paper on the counter and sprinkle with an even layer of flour to cover the surface (about 1/4 cup or so). Scrape the dough onto the floured parchment and use heavily-floured hands to shape it into a roundish blob. Press in any exposed salami bits and pinch the dough to seal. Sprinkle the top with another layer of flour and cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Let sit until the dough has risen by half, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Place an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Place a 3- or 4-quart lidded Dutch oven on the rack and allow to heat while the oven reaches the desired temperature.
• When the dough has proofed, carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven and remove the lid. Uncover the plastic from the bread dough and gently lower the dough into the Dutch oven on the parchment. Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, then bake until the top is golden brown and crusty, another 10 to 20 minutes.
• Let it cool on a rack for about an hour, then slice and serve with butter if desired. This is best on the first day, but it will freeze well wrapped tightly in plastic.

Steps:

• Mixing Instructions:.
• Mix the yeast and salt with the water in a 5 quart bowl or a lidded (not airtight) food container.
• Mix in the remaining dry ingredients without kneading, usings a spoon or a heavy-duty stand mixer with dough hook.
• Note: If not using a mixer you may need to use wet hands to incorporate the last bit of the flour.
• Cover (not airthight) and allow to rest at room temperature until the dough rises and collapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2 hours.
• The dough can be used immediately after rising, however it is easier to handle when cold.
• Refrigerate in a lidded (not airtight) container and use over the next 14 days.
• Baking Instructions.
• Dust the surface of the refrigerated dough with flour and cut off a grape fruit size piece (1 lb.).
• Dust with more flour and quickily shape into a ball by stretching the surface of dough around to the bottom on all four sides, roating the ball a quarter-turn as you go.
• Place on cornmeal-dusted pizza peel and allow to rise for 40 minutes.
• 20 minutes before baking time, preheat oven to 450º F, with a baking stone placed on the middle rack.
• Place a cast iron skillet or empty broiler tray on the bottom rack.
• Sprinkle loaf liberally with flour and slash the top using a serrated bread knife.
• Slide loaf directly onto the hot stone.
• Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the skillet or broiler tray and quickly close the door.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until top of crust is dark brown and sounds hollow when thumped.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
• Allow to cool before slicing.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl whisk the flours and the salt. Set aside.
• Grease a separate large bowl with butter or olive oil and set this aside. (This bowl will be used for the dough's initial rise).
• In a standing-mixer's bowl, dissolve the sugar into the water. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. (If you'd like . at this point . to ensure the yeast is active . you could let the mix stand for 10-15 minutes . or until it's foamy and/or bubbling just a bit. I typically don't).
• Add the flours and salt.
• Mix (**Note: The original recipe outlines stirring with a wooden spoon, which works . but I like to use my mixer with the dough hook and let it go for 4 or 5 minutes on medium speed) Note: the dough will be on the wet side. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl from the preparation step.
• Cover bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for at least an hour . or until it's about doubled in size.
• ** Typically, dough at our house takes 3 or 4 hours to double . point being . don't sweat the exact time.
• Grease 2 oven-safe bowls with about a Tbsp of butter each.
• Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
• Punch down your dough . and divide it into 2 equal parts. One by one . place each half on a floured counter-top. Quickly form a ball with each part & transfer them to your prepared bowls.
• At this point . the original recipe calls for letting the dough rise until it's doubled again in size . and this certainly works. I've taken to putting the dough into the fridge overnight for its second rise. There's something that happens to dough when it ferments for a long period of time in a cool environment.
• Pre-heat oven to 425.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 425. Reduce the heat to 375º and bake for 18-19 minutes longer. Remove from the oven . letting the loaves sit for 5-10 minutes before turning them over onto cooling racks.
• If the bowls have been greased well . the loaves should easily fall out out onto the cooling racks.
• You'll have to gauge it based on taste . I cook the loaves on the lower end of the time the original calls for because we like them pale & soft. If that's not for you . they can always be placed back into the oven (outside their bowls) and baked for about 5 minutes longer.
• Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.