Breads Recipes - Country Bread

Ingredients

• 350g/2 1/2 cups whole meal flour

• 350g/3 cusp plain flour

• 150g/1 1/4 cups strong plain flour

• 20ml/4 tsp salt

• 50g/4 tbsp butter at room temperature

• 475ml/2 cups lukewarm milk

FOR THE STARTER

• 15ml/1 tbsp active dried yeast

• 250ml/1 cup lukewarm water

• 150g/1 1/4 cups plain flour

• 1.5ml/1/4 tsp caster sugar

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Method:

1. Combine all the starter ingredients in a bowl. Cover and leave in a warm place for 2-3 hours.

2. Place the flours, salt and butter in a food processor and process just until blended, about 1-2 minutes. Stir together the milk and starter, then slowly pour into the processor, with the motor running, until the mixture forms a dough. Knead until smooth.

3. Place in an un-greased bowl, cover with a plastic bag and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Knead again then return to the bowl and leave until tripled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

4. Grease a baking sheet. Divide the dough in half. Cut off one-third of the dough from each half and shape into four balls. Top each large ball with a small ball and press the centre with the handle of a wooden spoon to secure. Cover with a plastic bag, slash the top, and leave to rise.

5. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Dust the loaves with flour and bake until browned and the bases sound hollow when tapped, 45-50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.