Malted Brown Bread Recipes

IRISH MALTED BREAD

Steps:

• Tip both flours into a bowl, then add two-thirds of a tsp salt to one side of the bowl and the yeast to the other side of the bowl. Mix well.
• Put the malt extract in a separate bowl, then pour in the olive oil and 145ml tepid water and stir until the extract dissolves. Tip into the bowl with the flour mix.
• Bring the mixture together with your hands to make a rough dough. Tip out onto a surface lightly dusted with flour and knead for 10 mins until you have a smooth dough. Put the dough in a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for at least 2 hrs until doubled in size.
• Lightly oil a 900g loaf tin. Roll out the dough into a log shape and transfer to the loaf tin, then cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr more, or until doubled in size. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• Bake for 25-30 mins, or until golden brown. Turn out the loaf onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

BROWN LOAF

Steps:

• Mix your choice of brown flour with the white, the yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Put in the butter and rub it into the flour. Stir in the seeds if using. Make a dip in the centre of the flour and pour in almost 300ml hand warm (cool rather than hot) water, with a round-bladed knife. Then mix in enough of the remaining water and a bit more if needed, to gather up any dry bits in the bottom of the bowl and until the mixture comes together as a soft, not too sticky, dough. Gather it into a ball with your hands.
• Put the dough on to a very lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 mins until it feels smooth and elastic, only adding the minimum of extra flour if necessary to prevent the dough sticking. Place the ball of dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cover with an upturned, clean, large glass bowl and leave for 45 mins-1 hr or until doubled in size and feels light and springy. Timing will depend on the warmth of the room.
• Knock back the dough by lightly kneading just 3-4 times. You only want to knock out any large air bubbles, so too much handling now will lose the dough's lightness. Shape into a ball. Cover with the glass bowl and leave for 15 mins.
• Now shape to make a tin loaf Grease a 1.2-litre capacity loaf tin (about 23 x 13 x 5.5cm) and line the base with baking parchment. Using your knuckles, flatten the dough into a rectangle about 25 x 19cm. Fold both shorter ends into the centre like an envelope, make a ¼ turn, then flatten again into the same size and roll up very tightly, starting from one of the short ends. Roll the top of the dough in extra seeds and place in the tin with the join underneath, pressing the seeds gently into the dough. Cover with a clean tea towel. Leave for 40-45 mins, or until risen about 5cm above the top of the tin.
• Put a roasting tin in the bottom of the oven 20 mins before ready to bake and heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Put the risen bread in the oven, carefully pour about 250ml cold water into the roasting tin (this will hiss and create a burst of steam to give you a crisp crust), then lower the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for about 30 mins or until golden, covering with foil for the last 5 mins if starting to brown too quickly. Leave in the tin for 2-3 mins, then remove and cool on a wire rack. If you tap the underneath of the baked loaf if should be firm and sound hollow.

MALTED BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• Add the yeast to about a third (200ml) of the warm water. Leave to froth up in a warm place.
• Meanwhile, mix the flour and sea salt together.
• If the flour has been stored in a cold place, warm slightly then pour the yeasty liquid into the flour, followed by the oil, and gradually add all the remaining water. Knead well for about 10 minutes to a polished, silky soft dough.
• Cover with a damp linen cloth and allow to stand for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220°C /428°F / Gas Mark 7.
• Warm the 2 baking trays or 3 small flower pots (about 5 1/2" diameter) then lightly oil. Divide the dough into 2 (for trays) or 3 (for flower pots) equal pieces, knead out the air and place on the trays/in flower pots.
• Recover with the damp linen cloth and leave to rise in a warm, draught-free place (about 80°F is ideal) for about 3/4 hr until the dough has doubled in size.
• Bake for 35 - 40 minutes. Turn out the bread and tap the bottom. If it sounds hollow - the bread is cooked. If knocking the bread produces a dull thud - return it to the oven, turned upside down for a little longer.