Within the realm of bread baking, harnessing the rustic charm and exceptional heat retention of a cast iron Dutch oven unveils a world of culinary delight. This indispensable kitchenware transforms the ordinary act of baking bread into an extraordinary experience, yielding crusty masterpieces with an artisan touch. As you embark on this culinary journey, discover the secrets to creating the perfect loaf, from choosing the right ingredients to mastering the intricate art of dough manipulation. Unlock the secrets of temperature control, unravel the mysteries of steam injection, and delve into the nuances of kneading, rising, and scoring. Prepare to be captivated by the alchemy of flour, water, yeast, and salt as they unite under the heat of the Dutch oven, culminating in a sensory symphony of flavors and textures.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
DUTCH-OVEN BREAD
Crackling homemade Dutch-oven bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. -Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h
Yield 1 loaf (16 slices).
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups flour, yeast and salt. Stir in water and enough remaining flour to form a moist, shaggy dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise in a cool place until doubled, 7-8 hours., Preheat oven to 450°; place a Dutch oven with lid onto center rack and heat for at least 30 minutes. Once Dutch oven is heated, turn dough onto a generously floured surface. Using a metal scraper or spatula, quickly shape into a round loaf. Gently place on top of a piece of parchment., Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf. Using the parchment, immediately lower bread into heated Dutch oven. Cover; bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bread is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, 15-20 minutes longer, partially covering if browning too much. Remove loaf from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 86 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 148mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.
CAMPFIRE DUTCH OVEN BREAD RECIPE - (4.7/5)
Provided by MJH
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Directions For Making The Dough: Combine all the ingredients and mix or knead into a soft dough Place into a greased metal bowl and let it rise for an hour, somewhere warm. After the rise punch it down a bit and form it into a ball. Cover the dough ball with a greased piece of plastic wrap. Start pre-heating the Dutch Oven....pre-heating the oven is THE most important part. After a 30 minute give the dough ball a few slashes with a sharp knife and put it into the Dutch Oven. Off To The Dutch Oven: Pre oil the Dutch Oven with a about 1/2 Tbs of olive oil. Place dough into the Dutch Oven on a piece of parchment paper. Keeping An Eye On It: Rotate the DO and the lid a 1/4 turn every 15 minutes. Checked the status of the coals and each time the DO is turned and add coals as needed. Regular bread baking takes about 35 minutes in a standard oven but in the DO it takes the better part of 90 minutes. When bread reaches 200 degrees as measured with a thermometer, it should be done. How to clean cast iron without water: Cut a raw potato in half or lengthwise, depending on the size of your skillet. Larger skillets may require you to cut the potato lengthwise for more surface area. This method of cleaning your cast iron pots and pans works great for tackling rust. Apply a thin layer of baking soda to the bottom of your potato. The baking soda is both a slight abrasive and a light but effective cleaner. Baking soda is renowned as a natural cleaning ingredient. Scrub the skillet with the potato and baking soda, taking extra care to clean the problem areas. Scrub the bottom of the pan, as well, as the sides. If the potato gets too slick, simply cut a slice off of it and apply another coating of baking soda. Season your pan after cleaning. You'll probably need to re-season your pan after cleaning it with a potato and baking soda.
HOMEMADE DUTCH OVEN BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: lukewarm water, active dry yeast, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, olive oil
Provided by Jordan Kenna
Categories Bakery Goods
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Stir the yeast into the water and allow the yeast to bloom until foamy.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt by hand. Once incorporated, create a small well in the middle and pour in the water and yeast mixture.
- Mix by hand, wetting your working hand before mixing so the dough doesn't stick to your fingers. The water and flour should come together and a form rough dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour in small increments, about 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Once the dough comes together, cover and let rise until doubled in size (about 1 ½-2 hours).
- Uncover the dough and give it a few pokes with your finger. If the dough has risen properly, it should indent under the pressure of your finger and slowly deflate.
- Using your hand or a rubber spatula, start from the rim of the bowl to work the dough loose from the sides and fold it up and towards the center of the bowl. Turn the bowl 90 degrees, and repeat until all the dough has been pulled from the sides and folded towards the center.
- Once finished, cover and let the dough rise again for another 1 ½-2 hours.
- Once the dough has doubled in size again, gently transfer it from the bowl to a lightly floured surface.
- Sprinkle a bit of flour on top of the dough. Using your hands, begin to shape it into a loaf. Fold the dough under itself several times to form a ball, then pinch together the seams of dough underneath.
- Place the dough seam-side down in a clean bowl that has been lightly coated with olive oil and dusted with flour.
- Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, place a 6-quart Dutch oven (or heavy cooking pot with oven-safe lid) inside the oven. Preheat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C) with the pot inside for 45 minutes-1 hour.
- Carefully remove the pot from the oven and place it on a trivet or heat-safe surface. (Be careful! It'll be VERY HOT.)
- Turn the proofed dough over onto a lightly floured surface and carefully place it inside the pot.
- Cover with the lid and return the pot to the oven.
- Bake for 45 minutes, removing the lid for the last 15 minutes.
- Remove bread from pot, cover, and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 262 calories, Carbohydrate 53 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 7 grams, Sugar 0 grams
CRUSTY DUTCH OVEN BREAD
An incredibly easy, crusty white bread cooked inside a Dutch oven.
Provided by Stacey
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes White Bread Recipes
Time 3h10m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Pour bread flour into the bowl of an electric stand mixer and add water, followed by salt. Sprinkle yeast over the surface and allow to dissolve, about 5 minutes.
- Mix on medium speed using the paddle attachment until the dough comes together. Replace the paddle with a dough hook. Continue mixing until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to the dough to rise to about twice its size, 30 to 45 minutes. Push a finger into the dough. The dough should give some resistance, but not spring back. If it springs back, let it rise longer.
- Turn dough out onto a floured surface and punch down to expel excess gas and redistribute the yeast. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Shape the dough into a boule by pushing back and forth on the counter in a circular motion until you have a round, smooth ball. Cover dough with a clean dish towel and allow to rise, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a Dutch oven.
- Slice a very shallow "X" into the top of the bread with a sharp knife to help it expand while baking. Place loaf into the prepared Dutch oven and cover with the lid.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and continue to bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking until deep golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 145.4 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Fat 0.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 389.4 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
Tips for Baking Bread in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven:
- Choose the right Dutch oven: Look for a Dutch oven that is at least 4-quarts in size and has a tight-fitting lid.
- Preheat the Dutch oven: Preheat the Dutch oven in a 450°F oven for at least 30 minutes before baking the bread. This will help create a crispy crust.
- Use a well-seasoned Dutch oven: A well-seasoned Dutch oven will help prevent the bread from sticking. To season your Dutch oven, rub it with a thin layer of oil and heat it in a 350°F oven for 1 hour.
- Shape the bread properly: Make sure the bread is shaped into a tight, round loaf. This will help it rise evenly in the Dutch oven.
- Score the bread: Score the top of the bread with a sharp knife before baking. This will help the bread rise evenly and prevent it from cracking.
- Bake the bread covered for most of the baking time: Bake the bread covered for the first 30-35 minutes of baking. This will help create a moist interior.
- Remove the lid for the last 10-15 minutes of baking: Remove the lid from the Dutch oven for the last 10-15 minutes of baking. This will help create a crispy crust.
- Let the bread cool before slicing: Let the bread cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This will help the bread set and prevent it from crumbling.
Conclusion:
Baking bread in a cast iron Dutch oven is a great way to create delicious, artisan-style bread at home. By following these tips, you can ensure that your bread turns out perfect every time. So next time you're in the mood for some fresh, homemade bread, give this method a try!
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