Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Spelt Flour Bread


Happy Wednesday guys!  It's the middle of the week and I'm just counting down the weekend! 

I've got a bookclub meeting tonight with the girls to discuss this month's book - Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.  And honestly... I wasn't a fan.  I know Pride & Prejudice is a classic, but I just couldn't bring myself to be interested.  The other books we've read (The Help, Running with Scissors, Water for Elephants) all had me wanting to read more and more and not put the book down.  But this just had me yawning and not very interested.  Oh well... to each their own.  Have any of you ever read Pride & Prejudice?  Or this Zombie-infused version?  What did you think?

I'll tell you what is interesting to me though.  Spelt.  And spelt flour.  Perusing the Whole Foods bulk bins a couple weekends ago, I came across this little gem of a flour.  I'd honestly never heard of it before, and well, for $2.49/lb., I thought it was reasonable enough to experiment with.  So I took to the good old Internet and of course found a no-knead bread recipe to try!  The results were more than satisfying! And in case you wanted to know (as if I'm not going to tell you regardless), spelt is similar to wheat in it's appearance, but is a little bit nuttier and sweeter in flavor.  It's also higher in protein than wheat, so if you're trying to increase proteins, spelt is the way to go!  So if you're looking for something different, but not too different (really only some subtle, but delicious differences)... give it a go!


Ingredients:
Adapted from Prairie Table's Recipe
 
With only 4 ingredients, how can you go wrong?

3 cups white spelt flour
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
1 & 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water

 
In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt and water.  Stir until combined.  The dough will be quite sticky, but that's okay.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for at least 10-12 hours (This is ideal for doing the night before, or in the morning before work).  

On a floured work surface, dust dough with flour and gently flatten into a rough square/rectangle.  Fold dough into thirds.  Gently flatten one more time, and fold into thirds one more time before shaping dough into a ball.  Place dough, seam side down, in a clean, lightly floured bowl.  Dust dough ball with flour and cover bowl with plastic wrap.  Leave in a warm, dry place to rise for about 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.

At least 30 minutes before the end of this rise, preheat oven to 500 F.

Place a baking sheet on the center rack and another baking sheet on the bottom rack (this will help absorb some of the heat).  When dough is finished rising, carefully turn it out onto the hot baking sheet, seam side up.  It won't look too pretty, but seriously, it gives it some rustic beauty when it's all done.  Who wants an absolutely perfect shaped loaf anyway?  Not me.

Pour about a cup of water into the pan on the bottom rack and quickly close the oven door.  Turn the oven down to 450 F and bake loaf for about 45 minutes, or until crust is a deep golden brown.

Serve warm with some butter or jam, or you can make sandwiches, like we did!


 Seriously, this is probably my favorite loaf of bread I've made so far this year.  It's so good, that I made it 3 times!  In 1 week!  That good.  And I'm sure if you can't find spelt flour, regular all-purpose will do, but I highly suggest that if you get a chance to come across some spelt, you won't be sorry!  Enjoy your Wednesday guys!

22 comments:

  1. ahhh it looks straight out of the bakery! =) Gorgeous photo too! Do you use a light box or natural lighting?

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas and Crayons

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  2. Thanks Jennifer! I just bought a Lowell EGO Light not too long ago, and have noticed an incredible different in my photos! It's definitely worth the investment!

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  3. There is not a whole lot better than beautiful crusty bread!! :D

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  4. Clever girl! This is mission impossible for me. Hahaha!

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  5. spelt flour is somethg new to me-- the bread looks rustic earthy n very yummy !
    and btw i really love pride n prejudice-- Mr Darcy kept me humming for many a days (when i first read the book--sigh) but then u r right to each his own ! I'd love to be a part of bookclub meeting though !

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  6. This spelt flour bread is really looking delicious with lot crumb and crust. I read pride and prejudice as part of my english class,I am not much of fan that novel

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  7. Easy to make,healthy and fresh yummy bread,I have made only rotis with them and love them.

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  8. Hmm...not a book that caught my eye, and good to know to skip it! I wouldn't skip this bread, though.

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  9. oh i've never made spelt bread - this looks wonderful!

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  10. Hi Peggy, this bread looks good. I love the crust it has. I am sure it make a great melted swiss cheese sandwich.

    Thanks for visiting. I am now following you. Have a great evening :)

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  11. This looks so rustic and tasty. The bulk bins at WF is my favorite shopping spot. Such a great place to buy grains. I have yet to try no-knead bread. I have to do that soon!

    I bought a set of those lights recently too. Love them!

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  12. Few ingredients and it turns fantastic! Love your photos too..

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  13. This is a beautiful loaf of bread!

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  14. I've really been meaning to pick up some spelt flour at the store and definitely will next time after seeing this loaf! Looks wonderful!

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  15. I had to look up spelt flour, something new to me. I gather it is available in some British supermarkets but I have never noticed it. The search is now on :) Diane

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  16. It looks really good - nothing beats fresh baked bread :-)

    I like to use spelt flour....

    My best,
    Birthe

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  17. This looks just like straight out from a artisan bakery! Well done!

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  18. This looks fantastic and I love your blog title! So much fun. Will most certainly follow you!

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  19. Thank you for visiting my blog and being so kind as to leave a comment. You have an interesting blog. Will come back to visit.

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  20. gosh, I wish I could bake perfect bread!

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  21. Peggy I need you to come to Australia and stay with me so you can teach me first hand how to bake bread, lol.

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  22. I love spelt so much! the best pretzels are spelt ones :)
    Katherine

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