SANDRA'S ROSEMARY-THYME-AGAVE NO-KNEAD OVERNIGHT CAST IRON BREAD

The best savory herb yeast bread that is so quick and easy to make...

Yield: 1 Loaf - (12 Servings)

Made with my fresh Rosemary (above)
and Thyme (below) plants...

Prep: 15 Mins.

Rise: 1 Hr.

Bake: 35 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups lukewarm water

2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (not rapid or instant)

1 TB agave

4-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tablespoon kosher salt

Mazola oil

1 TB chopped fresh rosemary (tender leaves only)

1 TB chopped fresh thyme (tender stems and leaves only)

Brushing (during and after baking):

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

METHOD

In a 2-cup glass measure, add 2 cups lukewarm water, yeast and agave; stir to combine and set aside to proof for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add 2 cups flour and mix with kosher salt, rosemary, and thyme using a wooden spoon.  Add the proofing mixture and stir to combine, and then add the remaining 2-1/3 cups flour and stir to incorporate until mixture begins to form a ball. Cover with plastic wrap sprayed on the underside, and let proof for 8 hours (or overnight).

Oil a pre-seasoned 10" cast iron skillet on its inside bottom and sides; set aside.

Use Mazola oil to coat clean hands. Punch down dough, and it over on itself working from outside to center about 10 times. Pick up dough ball with oiled hands and form dough into a smooth ball by tucking edges underneath itself. Place into prepared 10" cast iron skillet, pressing it slightly toward the skillet edging.  Spray underside of plastic wrap, cover, and let proof for 1 hour (or until doubled in size).

Meanwhile, when there are 15 minutes left of proofing - preheat oven to 400F.

When 1-hour (or doubled in size) rising of loaf is compete, use a sharp knife to cut and 'X' 1/4" deep across the top of loaf.

Bake for 15 minutes, and removed hot bread to brush top evenly with melted butter.  Return bread to oven and continue to bake for 20 minutes longer (internal temp should be 192F).  Remove from and brush with melted butter a second time.

Let loaf rest 5 minutes in cast iron skillet. Use a knife to ensure edges are loosened. Flip bread out onto a baking rack, and turn right side up. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let cool. ~ Enjoy!

Tip: 

If you do not have fresh herbs and are intending on using dry:

--When converting fresh herbs to dry, it's 1TB fresh (or 1 tsp dry). 

That is, 1 TB of fresh rosemary above would be converted to 1 tsp dry rosemary; same for the thyme.

SANDRA'S OVERNIGHT NO-KNEAD AGAVE ROSEMARY ARTISAN BREAD

The easiest bread recipe I've created to date,

and it's very versatile in that you can substitute the herbs,

i.e. instead of rosemary, use thyme, fennel seeds, etc...

Yield: 1 round loaf

Prep: 10 Mins.

1st rise: 9-12 Hrs.

2nd rise: 1-1/2 Hrs.

INGREDIENTS:

Wet:
1-1/2 cups warm water

1/2 teaspoon active/rapid dry yeast (not regular)

1 TB amber agave (or honey)

Dry:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons dried rosemary (not ground)

1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

--1 TB melted butter, (to brush top while hot out of oven)

METHOD:

Note: I proof my bread (let it rise) in the oven, no heat ~ A must in Alaska as this method provides for more of a consistent, non-draft environment.

Turn on pilot light in oven (no heat).

In a 2-cup glass-measuring cup, measure the warm water. Add the active/rapid yeast and agave, and stir to combine; set aside.

In a medium bowl, add the flour, salt, and pepper; whisk to evenly incorporate.  Add the wet mixture  and use a wooden spoon to combine, until the dough has pulled away from the sides and is somewhat shaggy.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap that has been sprayed on its underside.

Turn off pilot light in oven (no heat or light), then place the bowl of bread into oven to rise overnight.

The next morning, after 9-12 hours, remove the bread dough proofing in oven.

Turn on pilot light in oven (no heat).

Spray hands with oil and fold dough from outside to inner side (over on itself), working around in circles about 20 times.  Spray hands again, then place the dough ball into a sprayed 10" heavy round ceramic baking dish, Dutch oven, or cast iron skillet. Cover with plastic wrap with underside sprayed, then let rise for 1-1/2 hours, once again in the oven, turning off pilot light (no heat).

15 minutes prior to last rise, remove dough from oven to finish rising on counter top, then preheat oven to 450F.

After second rise is complete (the last 15 minutes) and dough has doubled in size, remove plastic wrap. Use a sharp knife and cut and 'X' on the top 1/4" deep to control its expansion area while baking.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until the internal temp reads 190F with an instant read thermometer.

Remove dough to a wire rack, brush with melted butter, then top with clean kitchen towels to cool.  You can either serve the bread warm or at room temperature.

Store leftover bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days. ~ Enjoy!

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Tips: If you like your bread with a crispy crust this is how it is when it comes out of the oven. If you like your bread with a softer crust, place it a plastic Ziploc bag and it'll soften overnight stored on the counter top.

SANDRA'S EASY NO-KNEAD DUTCH OVEN BREAD

An easy 5-minute no-knead dough to prepare the night before,
then quick to prepare upon waking the next morning
to enjoy throughout the day...

Yields: (1 loaf)

Prep: 5 Mins.

Total rising time: 9 hours

Bake 45 to 50 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)

--2 teaspoons olive oil

(For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)

--Dutch oven (should be at least 4 quarts in size) with its lid.

Note: (Do not oil Dutch Oven, bread will not stick while baking).

METHOD

Add flour to bowl. Add yeast and sea salt and stir thoroughly. Add barely warm (tepid) water and stir thoroughly. The dough will look rough and shaggy.

Lightly oil top of dough using a paper towel, then oil your hands (to prevent dough sticking to them); turn dough in the bowl and do so on this side so the whole ball of dough is slightly coated with the oil.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Throw a kitchen towel over top and underneath of bowl and set it in a warm corner. Leave it alone for 8 hours. (Save plastic wrap).

When risen, in the bowl, fold dough over on itself at 3 times, then reform into ball. Using a bit more olive oil on hands and bowl, if need be, to prevent sticking.

Cover dough with same plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 hour.

About 20 minutes before the hour is up, turn on oven to preheat at 450 degrees. Place an oven-safe Dutch Oven in oven to preheat at the same time as well.

After the full hour, the dough will have risen and nearly doubled in size. Quickly shape the dough into a round ball and drop it into the preheated Dutch Oven (be careful because it's really, really hot). Slash an 'X' on top of the dough with a sharp knife that's been sprayed w/oil. Place lid on hot Dutch Oven and carefully place in oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Note: When removing Dutch Oven lid/pot from hot oven, 

be sure to do so using heavy pot holders, 

to a baking rack or stove top 'cold burner' 
as they will be hot enough to scorch standard kitchen towels.

Remove the lid from the Dutch Oven and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until crust is golden. Bread is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted in center reads 190 degrees.

Remove bread from oven. To keep warm for serving, wrap loaf in a clean kitchen towel. Slice and serve! ~ Enjoy!

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Tips: 

This bread is quite forgiving and can be left to rise from 6 to 12 hours, although the longer you let rise the more yeast flavor you'll end up with.

To make wheat, rye, etc., versions...simply change out, when initially mixing, 1 cup of all-purpose flour with your desired alternate flour.

To make artisan...simply add, after the first rising of dough and before the last 1-hour rise, a few of your favorite sugar, spices, herbs, seeds, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate or other chips, zest,  flavorings, cheese, etc. in modest amounts.