Easy Crust Bread loaf

Easy Crust Bread loaf

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour + more for sprinkling 

1.5 cups warm water

2 tsp instant dry yeast

2 tap sugar

2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup milk 

2 tbsp frozen butter

For surface 

1 tbsp suji ( semolina)

1tbsp all purpose flour (maida)

Instructions

In a bowl add 1.5 cup warm water and sugar and stir well. Add the yeast stir a little and it aside for at least 5 minutes for the yeast to activate properly ( make sure it warm water not hot or yeast will die instead).

Add the all purpose flour and sea salt to a large mixing bowl or your stand mixer. Mix in the water yeast mix , milk and stir well until incorporated.  You can Cover the bowl loosely with a wet kitchen towel or plastic wrap or tranfer it to an oiled large bowl add Cover it and let it rest at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours minimum or leave it overnight. 

After about 3 hours check the dough and you should notice the dough rise. Pour the  dough onto a floured surface. Add the cold butter and Shape it into a round loaf by folding it over on itself a few times. Don't Knead too much.

Meanwhile preheat your oven to 230°C for at least 10 minutes. Place a baking dish with a couple of inches of water in it on the bottom for steam inside the oven for a crispy crust.

Sprinkle the plate with some flour and semolina and place the bread loaf on it. Allow it to rest for some time while the oven warms up. Use a  knife make a few slits on the loaf.

Cook for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool down before slicing. 

Note: you can make this bread vegan by replacing the milk and removing the butter. The crust will remain same.

By @deadbeautiful01