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When I tell you that, if forced, I had to pick one and only one recipe to share with you that this — my mother’s peasant bread — would be it, I am serious. I would almost in fact be OK ending the blog after this very post, retiring altogether from the wonderful world of food blogging, resting assured that you all had this knowledge at hand. This bread might just change your life.
The reason I say this is simple. I whole-heartedly believe that if you know how to make bread you can throw one hell of a dinner party. And the reason for this is because people go insane over homemade bread. Not once have I served this bread to company without being asked, “Did you really make this?” And questioned: “You mean with a bread machine?” But always praised: “Is there anything more special than homemade bread?”
And upon tasting homemade bread, people act as if you’re some sort of culinary magician. I would even go so far as to say that with homemade bread on the table along with a few nice cheeses and a really good salad, the main course almost becomes superfluous. If you nail it, fantastic. If you don’t, you have more than enough treats to keep people happy all night long.
So what, you probably are wondering, makes this bread so special when there are so many wonderful bread recipes out there? Again, the answer is simple. For one, it’s a no-knead bread. I know, I know. There are two wildly popular no-knead bread recipes out there. But this is a no-knead bread that can be started at 4:00pm and turned out onto the dinner table at 7:00pm. It bakes in well-buttered pyrex bowls — there is no pre-heating of the baking vessels in this recipe — and it emerges golden and crisp without any steam pans or water spritzes. It is not artisan bread, and it’s not trying to be. It is peasant bread, spongy and moist with a most-delectable buttery crust.
Genuinely, I would be proud to serve this bread at a dinner party attended by Jim Lahey, Mark Bittman, Peter Reinhart, Chad Robertson, Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. It is a bread I hope you will all give a go, too, and then proudly serve at your next dinner party to guests who might ask where you’ve stashed away your bread machine. And when this happens, I hope you will all just smile and say, “Don’t be silly. This is just a simple peasant bread. Easy as pie. I’ll show you how to make it some day.”
Five Favorite Peasant Bread Variations
- Overnight Refrigerator Focaccia
- Everything Bagel Seasoning Peasant Bread
- Gluten-Free Peasant Bread
- Quinoa-Flax Toasting Bread
- No-Knead Thyme Dinner Rolls
A foolproof way to make sure your yeast is active is to sprinkle it over lukewarm water in a small bowl with a little sugar (detailed instructions below). After about 10 minutes, the yeast mixture will appear foamy as it does here:
Just-mixed dough, ready to rise:
Dough after first rise:
Dough, punched down:
Dividing the dough in half:
As I noted above, this is a very wet dough and must be baked in an oven-proof bowl. I am partial to the Pyrex 1L 322 size, but any similarly sized oven-proof bowl will work.
Buttering and filling the bowls:
Dough after second rise, ready for the oven:
This is the yeast I buy exclusively: SAF Instant Yeast. Instant yeast can be whisked into the flour directly (as you would salt or sugar) without any blooming or proofing. Find it here: SAF Instant Yeast. If you want to stick to active-dry (but don’t! I promise, instant is so easy.) Red Star yeast is great.
This bread is irresistible when it’s freshly baked, but it also makes wonderful toast on subsequent mornings as well as the best grilled cheese.
My Mother’s Peasant Bread: The Best Easiest Bread You Will Ever Make
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 2 loaves
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The bowls:
The cheapest, most widely available 1-qt bowl is the Pyrex 322. Update: These bowls are becoming harder to find and more expensive. As a result, I’m suggesting this cheaper option: the Pyrex 3-piece set. You can split the dough in half as always (see recipe) and bake half in the 1-quart bowl and half in the 1.5 quart bowl. The loaves will not be the same shape, but they will be delicious nonetheless.
Vintage Option: The vintage Pyrex #441 bowl is my favorite bowl to bake the peasant bread in — the perfectly round shape of the bowl creates a beautiful round loaf. It belongs to a set of four nesting bowls (also called Cinderella bowls, specifically the Pyrex #441, #442, #443, #444), which I have purchased from Ebay. I absolutely love the set in general, but I love most of all that I can bake the whole batch of peasant bread in the second largest bowl (#443) and half of the batch in the smallest bowl (#441). The set runs anywhere from $35 to $50 or higher depending on the pattern of the Pyrex.
The bread:
This is a sticky, no-knead dough, so, some sort of baking vessel, such as pyrex bowls (about 1-L or 1-qt) or ramekins for mini loaves is required to bake this bread. You can use a bowl that is about 2 qt or 2 L in size to bake off the whole batch of dough (versus splitting the dough in half) but do not use this size for baking half of the dough — it is too big.
Yeast:
I buy SAF Instant Yeast in bulk from Amazon I store it in my fridge or freezer, and it lasts forever. If you are using the packets of yeast (the kind that come in the 3-fold packets), just go ahead and use a whole packet — It’s 2.25 teaspoons. I have made the bread with active dry, rapid rise, and instant yeast, and all varieties work. If you are interested in buying yeast in bulk, here you go: SAF instant yeast and Red Star Baking Yeast (use this if you prefer to stick to active-dry, though I highly recommend using instant). The beauty of instant yeast is that there is no need to do the proofing step — you can add the yeast directly to the flour. I never use active-dry yeast anymore.
Troubleshooting:
For questions on high-altitude baking, see this post.
Several commenters have had trouble with the second rise, and this seems to be caused by the shape of the bowl they are letting the dough rise in the second time around. Two hours for the second rise is too long. If you don’t have a 1-qt bowl, bake 3/4 of the dough in a loaf pan and bake the rest off in muffin tins or a popover pan. The second rise should take no more than 30 minutes.
Also, you can use as many as 3 cups of whole wheat flour, but the texture changes considerably. I suggest trying with all all-purpose or bread flour to start and once you get the hang of it, start trying various combinations of whole wheat flour and/or other flours. Also, measure scant cups of flour if you are not measuring by weight: scoop flour into the measuring cup using a separate spoon or measuring cup; level off with a knife. The flour should be below the rim of the measuring cup. Here’s a printable version that’s less wordy: Peasant Bread Recipe, Simplified
Peasant Bread Fans! There is now a book: Bread Toast Crumbs, a loaf-to-crumb bread baking book, filled with tips and tricks and answers to the many questions that have been asked over the years. In the book you will find 40 variations of the master peasant bread recipe + 70 recipes for using up the many loaves you will bake. Learn more about the book here or buy it here.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (512 g | 1 lb. 2 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 cups lukewarm water (made by mixing 1 1/2 cups cold water with 1/2 cup boiling water)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant or active-dry yeast
- room temperature butter, about 2 tablespoons
Instructions
- Mixing the dough: If you are using instant yeast: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast. Add the water. Mix until the flour is absorbed. If you are using active-dry yeast: In a small mixing bowl, dissolve the sugar into the water. Sprinkle the yeast over top. There is no need to stir it up. Let it stand for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the mixture is foamy and/or bubbling just a bit — this step will ensure that the yeast is active. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. When the yeast-water-sugar mixture is foamy, stir it up, and add it to the flour bowl. Mix until the flour is absorbed.
- Cover bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for at least an hour. (In the winter or if you are letting the bread rise in a cool place, it might take as long as two hours to rise.) This is how to create a slightly warm spot for your bread to rise in: Turn the oven on at any temperature (350ºF or so) for one minute, then turn it off. Note: Do not allow the oven to get up to 300ºF, for example, and then heat at that setting for 1 minute — this will be too hot. Just let the oven preheat for a total of 1 minute — it likely won’t get above 100ºF. The goal is to just create a slightly warm environment for the bread.
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Grease two 1-qt or 1.5-qt oven-safe bowls (see notes above) with about a tablespoon of butter each. Using two forks, punch down your dough, scraping it from the sides of the bowl, which it will be clinging to. As you scrape it down try to turn the dough up onto itself if that makes sense. You want to loosen the dough entirely from the sides of the bowl, and you want to make sure you’ve punched it down. Then, take your two forks and divide the dough into two equal portions — eye the center of the mass of dough, and starting from the center and working out, pull the dough apart with the two forks. Then scoop up each half and place into your prepared bowls. This part can be a little messy — the dough is very wet and will slip all over the place. Using small forks or forks with short tines makes this easier — my small salad forks work best; my dinner forks make it harder. It’s best to scoop it up fast and plop it in the bowl in one fell swoop.
- Let the dough rise for about 20 to 30 minutes on the countertop near the oven (or near a warm spot) or until it has risen to just below or above (depending on what size bowl you are using) the top of the bowls. (Note: Do not do the warm-oven trick for the second rise, and do not cover your bowls for the second rise. Simply set your bowls on top of your oven, so that they are in a warm spot. Twenty minutes in this spot usually is enough for my loaves.)
- Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375º and make for 15 to 17 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and turn the loaves onto cooling racks. If you’ve greased the bowls well, the loaves should fall right out onto the cooling racks. If the loaves look a little pale and soft when you’ve turned them out onto your cooling racks, place the loaves into the oven (outside of their bowls) and let them bake for about 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.
Notes
Variations:
#1. Cornmeal. Substitute 1 cup of the flour with 1 cup of cornmeal. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
#2. Faux focaccia. Instead of spreading butter in two Pyrex bowls in preparation for baking, butter one 9×9-inch glass baking dish and one Pyrex bowl or just butter one large 9×13-inch Pyrex baking dish. If using two vessels, divide the dough in half and place each half in prepared baking pan. If using only one large baking dish, place all of the dough in the dish. Drizzle dough with 1 tablespoon of olive oil (if using the small square pan) and 2 tablespoons of olive oil (if using the large one). Using your fingers, gently spread the dough out so that it fits the shape of the pan. Use your fingers to create dimples in the surface of the dough. Sprinkle surface with chopped rosemary and sea salt. Let rise for 20 to 30 minutes. Bake for 15 minutes at 425ºF and 17 minutes (or longer) at 375ºF. Remove from pan and let cool on cooling rack.
#4 Gluten-free
#5. Everything Bagel Seasoning Bread. Simply coat the buttered bowls with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Watch a how-to on Instagram Stories here.
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: easy, bread, simple, no-knead, peasant
Ed says
What brand salt do you use?
★★★★★
alexandra says
Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Ed says
So about 6.5 g if using a different salt?
alexandra says
You can actually use as much as 10 g salt. If you are sensitive to salt, I would use 8 g.
Laura Newcomer says
Hello Alexandra, I have just discovered your wonderful bread techniques and recipes in your book, Bread, Toast, Crumbs. I posted something similar on Amazon for my 5-star review. I am a home baker and have been baking bread for a bunch of years (let’s just say decades and leave it at that!) and I am completely sold on your approach. The crumb, texture, and crust is absolutely perfect! The simplicity and ease of your no-knead breads have put fresh baked breads on our table every week, and I have found how forgiving your recipes are when adding something like dried fruit or swapping sesame seeds for flax. The loaves continue to come out perfectly. Thank you!
★★★★★
alexandra says
Hi Laura! I am so happy to hear all of this. Truly, nothing makes me happier than hearing that the peasant bread recipe has facilitated getting homemade bread on the table regularly. Thank you for taking the time to write in here, and thank you for taking the time to write a review on Amazon … means the world!
mitch moore says
my first response to an online recipe because your bread comes out perfect every time I add some roasted sesame and 2 tablespoons vital wheat protein
I have also made bread for decades and I always have something not quite right
NICE, as I slip into my senior years I can finally say yayyy!
thank you!
alexandra says
So happy to hear this, Mitch! Love the sound of toasted sesame seeds here. Thanks for taking the time to write. Happy baking!
Katie says
I made this for the first time over the weekend and oh my goodness it was amazing! I put it in a glass 1.5 quart loaf pan (made 3/4 the recipe) and it turned into a wonderful loaf with a perfect top. I’ve been trying to make bread for half a year now and this is the first one that turned out moist and full of air pockets. Definitely a keeper!
★★★★★
alexandra says
So happy to hear this, Katie!
Katie says
Does the baking time change if I’m baking the entire batch in a larger bowl instead of splitting it in two?
alexandra says
I would bake it for at least 10-15 minutes longer … better to err on the side of over-baking than under-baking.
Bread Head says
Made today and love it! It’s got just the right elastic texture inside and has a wonderful crispy top. The flavor is perfect – doesn’t have the sweetness some homemade breads have. I think it’s the perfect amount of sugar and salt. My first attempt a few weeks ago was a flop – don’t think the yeast was fresh enough. I also used the warm oven trick this time.
I baked the loaves in the Pyrex 1 liter and the 1.5 liter size glass bowls like the photo above.
Thanks for sharing what I know will become my go-to recipe for bread!
alexandra says
Wonderful to hear this, Bread Head!
Susan says
Easy and wonderful bread- thanks for sharing
★★★★★
Tanya Peshovich says
I make this bread every week and absolutelyove it!!
★★★★★
alexandra says
Yay 🙂 🙂 🙂
Scott Raun says
I’m wondering how the recipe would do if you used instant yeast and halved it?
★★★★★
alexandra says
Should work great! Many people have had success halving the recipe. Keep in mind, the bread freezes beautifully … I always make the whole recipe or double, and then I freeze the extra loaves.
Jude says
I have just baked bread! Me, I actually did it! I used a size 325 Pyrex bowl and cooked it for about 15 – 20 minutes longer than the baking time you suggested baking the 2 smaller loves/pyrex bowls. I coated my bowl with sesame & poppy seeds. Oh my gosh, not only did it look fantastic once out of the bowl on the cooling rack, it tasted fantastic too. It was very hard to wait an agonizing 10 minutes (well it seemed agonizing & extra long to us), but it was well worth the wait.
So, from us, who live in the land down under, South Austraia, to you in Upstate New York, we say thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!
★★★★★
alexandra says
Awwwwww, Jude! Bravo!!! This makes me so happy. Thanks for taking the time to write. So happy this was a success.
dq says
Are there any modifications to this recipe for baking at 5,280 elevation?