Hello guys! Today I’m here to share another exciting recipe with you, and that is “The Homemade Peasant Bread” recipe. This is one of the best bread recipes out there. The best thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to knead the dough to make bread out of it. And believe me! This is one of the finest bread recipes that are super easy to follow as well.
Peasant Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
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4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
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2 tsp kosher salt (or 1½ tsp table salt)
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2 tsp sugar
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2 tsp instant yeast (or active dry yeast – see notes)
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2 cups lukewarm water
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About 2 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing the bowls
Instructions:
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Mix the Dough (Instant Yeast Method)
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast.
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Add the lukewarm water and mix until a sticky dough forms.
If Using Active Dry Yeast:
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Dissolve the sugar in the lukewarm water. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let it sit for 10–15 minutes until foamy.
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In a separate large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Pour in the foamy yeast mixture and stir until a sticky dough forms.
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First Rise
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Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel or plastic wrap and set it in a warm spot until doubled in size — about 1 hour. (If your kitchen is cool, it may take up to 2 hours.)
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Warm Oven Trick: Preheat your oven to 350ºF for 1 minute, then turn it off. Place the covered dough inside to speed up rising.
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Prepare the Baking Bowls
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Preheat oven to 425ºF.
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Grease two 1–1.5 qt Pyrex bowls generously with unsalted butter.
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Shape the Dough
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Deflate the risen dough by scraping the sides with two forks, pulling the dough toward the center to form a rough ball.
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Divide the dough in half using the forks and transfer each portion to a buttered bowl. (If the dough is too sticky, grease your hands lightly with oil before handling.)
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Second Rise
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Let the dough rest, uncovered, for 20–30 minutes in a warm spot near (but not inside) the oven.
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Bake the Bread
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Bake at 425ºF for 15 minutes.
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Reduce the temperature to 375ºF and bake for an additional 17–20 minutes.
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Cool and Serve
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Remove the bowls from the oven and immediately turn the loaves onto a cooling rack. If they’re not golden enough, return them directly to the oven (no bowls) for another 5 minutes to crisp the crust.
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Cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
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Tips for the Best Peasant Bread:
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Use room-temperature ingredients for the best rise.
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Generously butter the bowls — it ensures an easy release.
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This bread is best enjoyed warm the day it’s made, but it also toasts beautifully the next day.
No-knead Peasant Bread
The most remarkable thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to indulge in the hard work of kneading its dough to get finely baked peasant bread.
This recipe is quite simple and quick. You can even start this recipe even 3 – 4 hours before dinner and still be able to present the superbly baked tasty bread right on time.
There is no need to preheat the oven or baking pan for this recipe. You don’t even need any water spritzes or steam pans.
All you need is Pyrex bowls well-coated with butter. Using the simplest ingredients, you’ll make this soft, spongy, delicate, and delicious peasant bread with a beautiful golden crust.
How to store the Peasant Bread?
There are many eco-friendly methods to store the bread, but nothing seems to be better than using a ziplock bag. Ziplock bags can be used well to store the peasant bread for 3 – 4 days at room temperature. Ziplock bags keep the bread fresh, soft, and crumby as well.
If you want to store the bread for a longer period, then cut the bread as soon as it gets cooled after coming out of the baking oven. Place the bread pieces into the ziplock bags and store them in the freezer.
Although the ziplock bag stores the bread well and retains its freshness, it does not prevent the crust of bread from getting soft and losing its crispness. The best solution for this is to reheat the bread.
If you have stored the bread as slices, then the best way to reheat it is by toasting the bread slices in the toaster. But if you have stored the bread into halves or quarters, then reheat the bread loaves in the oven at 350ºF for 15 – 20 minutes.
If you liked this recipe, please check these bread recipes:
Homemade Brioche French Bread Recipe
