No Knead Rustic Round Loaf Recipes

NO-KNEAD LOAF BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar or honey, if using.
• Use a whisk or spoon to blend well.
• Slowly add the water and stir with a wooden spoon or your hands, until well mixed.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a draft-free place to rise for 4 hours.
• Grease an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with butter.
• Scrape the dough out onto a well-floured surface, such as a silicone mat, parchment paper, or a cutting board.
• With floured hands, shape the dough into a rough rectangle about 8 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Add small amounts of flour, if needed, to keep it from sticking to the surface. Try to handle the dough gently so it doesn't deflate too much. You want lots of little air bubbles through the loaf.
• Gently fold the ends to form a rough loaf shape. Drop it into the prepared pan.
• Cover the pan loosely with a clean, lightweight dish towel, and set in a draft-free place for 1 hour, or until it is approximately double in size.
• Heat the oven to 425 F. With a sifter or fine-mesh sieve, dust the risen loaf with a little more flour.
• Bake the loaf for 25 minutes, until it's a deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
• Remove from the oven and turn the bread out onto a rack to cool completely before slicing.
• Enjoy!

NO-KNEAD RUSTIC ROUND LOAF

Steps:

• In a large glass, pottery, or hard plastic mixing bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of the yeast, 1 cup of tepid (95°F) water, and 1 cup of the flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for at least 5 hours or overnight, until bubbly.
• Stir in the remaining package of yeast, 2 cups tepid water, and 2 cups of the flour along with the salt, and beat until the dough is smooth. Stir in the remaining 2 to 3 cups of flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. With a large scraper or with your hand (oil your hands first), fold the dough over onto itself once or twice to make a smooth ball.
• Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. The dough should be shiny and contain big bubbles. Fold the dough over onto itself again, cover, and let it rise once more for 40 minutes.
• Dust a work surface with flour. Turn the dough out onto the surface, being careful not to deflate the air bubbles. With a pair of scissors, cut the dough in half.
• Gently shape each half into a round loaf and transfer each onto one of two lightly greased, dark, noninsulated cookie sheets. Let them rise for 40 minutes or until puffy. With a sharp, serrated knife, make three diagonal slashes across the top of each loaf, about 1/4 inch deep, cutting at a 45-degree angle. Bake the loaves one at a time if using Baking Method #1, or bake both pans at the same time if using Baking Method #2.
• Baking method #1: Position the oven racks on the very bottom and in the center of the oven. Place a rimmed cookie sheet filled with lake or river rocks on the very bottom level. Center a baking stone or 6 unglazed tiles on the rack (place the tiles 1 to 2 inches away from the sides of the oven for air circulation). Preheat the oven at 465°F (regular bake) for at least 20 minutes. Reset the oven to convection bake at 400°F.
• Using a spray bottle filled with plain water, spritz the loaf generously. Place the loaf on top of the stone in the oven. Pour 3/4 to 1 cup cool water into the pan of rocks beneath (a sport water bottle works well). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the loaf is shiny and crusty.
• Baking method #2: With this method you can bake two to three pans of bread at one time. Position the oven racks so that they are equally spaced, with the second rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to convection bake at 450°F.
• Shape the loaves and let them rise as in step 5. Using a spray bottle filled with water, spritz the loaves generously. Reduce the temperature to 400°F and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and crusty. Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a wire rack.