Best Peasant Bread Recipes

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Light or Medium Crust cycle; press Start. For a crispier crust, use the French cycle or turn machine off after first rise and start the cycle over.

NO-KNEAD PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the bread flour, whole-wheat flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees F) and mix with your hands or a spoon until the dough comes together (it will be wet and sticky). Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap. If you have extra time, refrigerate 12 to 24 hours; this is not necessary but will improve the flavor of the bread.
• Let the dough rise, covered, at room temperature for about 18 hours; this rise is necessary whether you refrigerate the dough first or not. The surface will be bubbly after rising.
• Generously dust a work surface with all-purpose flour. Turn the dough out onto the flour, then sprinkle flour on top. Fold the top and bottom of the dough into the center, then fold in the sides to make a free-form square. Use a dough scraper or a spatula to turn the dough over, then tuck the corners under to form a ball.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and generously dust with flour. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet, seam-side down, and sprinkle with more flour. Cover with a cotton kitchen towel (do not use terry cloth) and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, 2 to 3 hours.
• Position a rack in the bottom of the oven and place a 2- or 4-quart cast-iron or enameled Dutch oven (without the lid) on the rack. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F for at least 30 minutes. When the dough has doubled, carefully transfer the hot pot to a heatproof surface. Uncover the dough, lift up the parchment and quickly invert the dough into the pot (shake the pot to center the dough, if necessary). Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until brown and crusty, 15 to 30 more minutes. Turn out onto a rack to cool.

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 1 cup warm water. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and sugar. Add the yeast mixture and remaining water; stir until combined. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Stir dough down. Divide in half. Place each half in a greased 1-qt. round casserole or ovenproof bowl. Brush tops with butter and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Remove from pans; serve warm if desired.

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 1/4 cup water and yeast. Let stand until yeast is foamy, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup more water and sponge; mix on low speed using paddle, about 2 minutes. Add flours, salt, and remaining water; mix 1 minute more. Using dough hook, mix on medium-low speed, pulling dough from hook 2 or 3 times, until dough is soft and sticks to fingers when squeezed, about 8 minutes. Or knead by hand, 15 to 20 minutes.
• On a floured surface, knead dough into a ball by hand, 4 or 5 turns. Place smooth side up in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm place until tripled in bulk, about 3 hours.
• Turn dough onto floured surface. Flour top, and cut in half. Roll up one piece of dough lengthwise, flatten slightly, and roll lengthwise again. On an unfloured surface, cup your hands around the sides of the dough and move it in small, circular motions, until top of dough is rounded and bottom is smooth. Flour a piece of parchment, and place dough on it; cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap, then cover with a towel. Repeat process with second piece of dough. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 50 minutes. 30 minutes before this final rise is completed, place a baking stone or baking sheet in the oven and an empty baking pan on the lowest shelf; heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Sprinkle dough with flour, and dimple the surface with your fingertips; let rise 10 minutes more. Using a baker's peel or baking sheet, slide loaves and parchment onto the baking stone or baking sheet. Pour 2 cups very hot water into the heated baking pan to create steam. Bake until dark golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

ITALIAN PEASANT BREAD FOR BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Place ingredients, according to manufacturer's directions into your bread machine.
• (some call for all liquids, or all dry ingredients first, so know your machine) Set machine to "dough cycle" and wait. (This takes most machines about an hour and a half for a full cycle).
• Remove from machine when cycle is complete and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Shape dough by hand, into a rectangular mound, spreading kind of thin, maybe an inch or two of thickness.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size. (This is a good time to go ahead and turn the oven on to preheat and help warm the kitchen).
• Brush with a little olive oil, sprinkle with rosemary and salt if desired. (This is the way its done at Macaroni Grill).
• Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden and crispy. Bread is meant to be a flatter shape and not a high rising bread.
• Have everyone tear their pieces of bread with their hands,and serve with olive oil flavored with fresh ground pepper.

HERBED PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook onion in butter over low heat until tender. Cool for 10 minutes. , Transfer to a large bowl. Add milk, sugar, salt, herbs, yeast and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Punch the dough down. Shape into a ball and place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack; brush with melted butter. Cool.

ITALIAN PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Blend in rest of ingredients except butter.
• Shape into one large round loaf. Place on a greased cooking sheet and let rise until doubled. Brush with melted butter.
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 25 minutes, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

SOUR MILK PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• 1. In a bowl big enough to make your bread in, get the starter going by sprinkling the yeast over the sour milk & honey {or whatever sweet you use to feed the yeast beasties}. Set aside in a warm place, covered with a bit of plastic wrap & a towel until ready to finish the bread. This process doubles as proofing your yeast, but keeping yeast in your freezer makes it last almost indefinitely {Well, I had yeast in freezer for almost 10 years anyhow!}.
• 2. Preheat the oven to 350-375°F {Glass, preheat to 350°F}. Grease 2 baking vessels well-again, I use lard as nothing works as well for bread as lard does.
• 3. Add the remaining ingredients to your starter and work until you are happy with it. -Can leave it relatively wet & unkneaded {this is for those days where everything hurts & you wanna just cry; results in a more crumbly quick bread}. -Can do a full out workout kneading until nice, smooth & few crevasses in the bread {this holds up well for hearty sandwiches}. This is a great option for teaching new bread bakers how to knead bread; there is an art to it & poking it is - not - kneading it!!
• 4. Divide your dough in 2 & place in greased vessels, turning once to coat dough so it will not dry out or stick. Cover dough ball with plastic wrap-not the vessel itself. Drape a towel over it all {plastic wrap keeps your towel from being incorporated into the dough & getting nasty}. Place in a warm area. Let rest & raise until doubled in size.
• 5. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown; longer if you want crust to be darker or crunchier.
• 6. Remove from oven to cool. If you wish, you can brush a bit of melted lard on the top of the crust to soften it a bit. If you want hard crusty true peasant bread, leave the lard off the the crust.
• 7. NOTES: -Glass needs to be cooked at a lower temperature because it conducts the heat so well. -I use lard for baking bread as there is no comparison in the end result. Lard is slowly creeping into everyday life for me, while shortening & margarine are becoming curse words in my household; & lard is probably better for you than butter too. Lard is being used in almost everything I make or bake these days. -If you are doing little to no kneading & therefore have a very wet dough, use meat serving forks {they are bigger than a normal eating or a carving fork & work very well for this} to divide dough & move to baking vessel. -I bake the majority of my breads these days in bowls. The bowls I use are 2 ½ quart Anchor Hocking bowls as they are a bit more straight sided and work better for sandwich making. Depending on the thickness you cut it, 1 slice, cut into 2 top to bottom, works for a hearty & filling sandwich. Pyrex bowls work too, but I got the Anchor Hocking bowls at the thrift store dirt cheap!! -If you want a more rustic round of bread, or if you have a well kneaded, smooth ball of dough, just bake on a flat pan lined with parchment paper with a bit of cornmeal thrown on it to keep from sticking.. -If you want a traditional sandwich loaf, by all means, bake in a normal bread pan.

ITALIAN PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Ingredients 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast 2 cups water (lukewarm, 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit) 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2. Directions 1. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Blend in rest of ingredients except butter. 2. Shape into one large round loaf. Place on a greased cooking sheet and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour). Brush with melted butter. 3. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 25 minutes, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Starter: The water should be at room temperature.
• Combine the water and yeast in a small bowl.
• Let stand I minute, then stir until yeast is dissolved.
• Add the flour.
• Stir vigorously for about 100 strokes.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl then cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap.
• Place in a warm (75 F) place until mixture is bubbly (2 -10 hours).
• Place the starter into a large (6-quart+) bowl.
• Dough: Add the water and yeast to starter.
• Add 1 cup, of flour and stir until it is well combined.
• Add the salt and only enough of the remaining flour to make a thick dough that is difficult to stir.
• Turn the sticky dough out on a floured work surface.
• Dip your hands in flour then knead the dough by pushing it down and forward with the heel of one hand, then pulling back from the top and folding the dough over with the other.
• Gradually add the remaining flour as you knead for 15 minutes.
• Dough will be strong and slightly sticky and will spring back when poked.
• Shape dough into a ball.
• Return dough to the bowl that has been coated with olive oil.
• Brush top of dough with a bit of olive oil,.
• Cover with a clean damp towel and place in a warm place until doubled in volume.
• Deflate the dough, place on lightly floured work surface.
• Knead briefly.
• Cut dough into 2 equal pieces.
• Knead briefly.
• Shape each piece into a tight ball.
• Place on a greased baking sheet.
• Cover with a clean damp towel and put in a warm place until doubled in volume.
• Preheat oven to 450 F and place oven racks to center of oven.
• Place a pan of water under the rack where the loaves will bake.
• Using a sharp knife score the loaves with cuts 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep along the surface.
• Place loaves in the hot oven.
• Bake for about 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 400 degrees F and bake another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1/2 hour.
• Brush tops with a bit more olive oil if you wish.

FLUFFY PEASANT BREAD (VEGAN AND LOW FAT)

Steps:

• Place the ingredients into the bread machine in the order listed or in the order suggested by manufacturer.
• Select the basic cycle, and light crust.
• For a crispier crust, select the FRENCH cycle, or turn the machine off after the first rising cycle, and start the cycle from start again.

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl whisk the flours and the salt. Set aside.
• Grease a separate large bowl with butter or olive oil and set this aside. (This bowl will be used for the dough's initial rise).
• In a standing-mixer's bowl, dissolve the sugar into the water. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. (If you'd like . at this point . to ensure the yeast is active . you could let the mix stand for 10-15 minutes . or until it's foamy and/or bubbling just a bit. I typically don't).
• Add the flours and salt.
• Mix (**Note: The original recipe outlines stirring with a wooden spoon, which works . but I like to use my mixer with the dough hook and let it go for 4 or 5 minutes on medium speed) Note: the dough will be on the wet side. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl from the preparation step.
• Cover bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for at least an hour . or until it's about doubled in size.
• ** Typically, dough at our house takes 3 or 4 hours to double . point being . don't sweat the exact time.
• Grease 2 oven-safe bowls with about a Tbsp of butter each.
• Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
• Punch down your dough . and divide it into 2 equal parts. One by one . place each half on a floured counter-top. Quickly form a ball with each part & transfer them to your prepared bowls.
• At this point . the original recipe calls for letting the dough rise until it's doubled again in size . and this certainly works. I've taken to putting the dough into the fridge overnight for its second rise. There's something that happens to dough when it ferments for a long period of time in a cool environment.
• Pre-heat oven to 425.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 425. Reduce the heat to 375º and bake for 18-19 minutes longer. Remove from the oven . letting the loaves sit for 5-10 minutes before turning them over onto cooling racks.
• If the bowls have been greased well . the loaves should easily fall out out onto the cooling racks.
• You'll have to gauge it based on taste . I cook the loaves on the lower end of the time the original calls for because we like them pale & soft. If that's not for you . they can always be placed back into the oven (outside their bowls) and baked for about 5 minutes longer.
• Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

NO-KNEAD EUROPEAN PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Mixing Instructions:.
• Mix the yeast and salt with the water in a 5 quart bowl or a lidded (not airtight) food container.
• Mix in the remaining dry ingredients without kneading, usings a spoon or a heavy-duty stand mixer with dough hook.
• Note: If not using a mixer you may need to use wet hands to incorporate the last bit of the flour.
• Cover (not airthight) and allow to rest at room temperature until the dough rises and collapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2 hours.
• The dough can be used immediately after rising, however it is easier to handle when cold.
• Refrigerate in a lidded (not airtight) container and use over the next 14 days.
• Baking Instructions.
• Dust the surface of the refrigerated dough with flour and cut off a grape fruit size piece (1 lb.).
• Dust with more flour and quickily shape into a ball by stretching the surface of dough around to the bottom on all four sides, roating the ball a quarter-turn as you go.
• Place on cornmeal-dusted pizza peel and allow to rise for 40 minutes.
• 20 minutes before baking time, preheat oven to 450º F, with a baking stone placed on the middle rack.
• Place a cast iron skillet or empty broiler tray on the bottom rack.
• Sprinkle loaf liberally with flour and slash the top using a serrated bread knife.
• Slide loaf directly onto the hot stone.
• Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the skillet or broiler tray and quickly close the door.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until top of crust is dark brown and sounds hollow when thumped.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
• Allow to cool before slicing.

FRENCH PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Stir in flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured plate. Clean the bowl and grease with butter. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a damp towel. Let rise in warm place 45 minutes or until double in bulk. Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle it with cornmeal. Flour your hands and divide dough into 2 parts, shaping each into an oblong loaf but DO NOT KNEAD. Place both loaves on the prepared baking sheet. Let the loaves rise another 45 minutes until almost doubled in size. Preheat oven to 425. Brush the tops of loaves with melted butter and bake 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 and bake 20 minutes more. While the loaves are still hot, brush with more butter and serve.

PEASANT BREAD SOUP

Steps:

• put chicken stock in a pot.
• add oven roasted garilc and the rest of the spices (and mushrooms).
• bring to a boil on med heat then low and cover for 30 min.
• cut bread into 1/2 inch rounds and brush with olive oil.
• toast in a pan till brown (i like mine dark).
• warm soup bowls in the oven or microwave.
• pour soup into bowls.
• spilt bread into bit size pieces and put in soup top with cheese.
• let stand 5 minute.

GRILLED PEASANT BREAD WITH OLIVE BUTTER

Steps:

• Make butter: In a bowl combine all ingredients.
• Cut bread into 1/2 to 1-inch thick slices. Brush both sides of bread with oil, season with salt and pepper and transfer to a heated grill. Grill each side of the bread for 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly toasted and grill marked. Rub bread with the garlic clove. While bread is still hot spread with some of the butter. Transfer to a serving dish.

MY MOTHER'S PEASANT BREAD RECIPE - (5/5)

Steps:

• 1. In a large mixing bowl whisk the flour and the salt. Set aside. Grease a separate large bowl with butter or olive oil and set this aside. (This is optional actually - I now just let the bread rise in the same bowl that I mix it in. My mother, however, always transfers the dough to a greased bowl.) 2. In a small mixing bowl, dissolve the sugar into the water. Sprinkle the yeast over top. There is no reason 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 is just to ensure that the yeast is active. (See photo above.) Now, gently stir it up, and add to the flour bowl. Stir this mixture up with a spatula or wooden spoon. Mixture will be wet. Scrape this mixture into prepared greased bowl from step 1. (Or, if you're feeling lazy, just cover this bowl with plastic wrap or a tea towel.) 3. Cover bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for at least an hour. (If you have the time to let it rise for 1.5 to 2 hours, do so - this will help the second rise go more quickly.) This is what my mother always does: Preheats the oven at its highest temperatureits lowest setting for just one minute, then shuts off the oven. UPDATE 01/05: Preheat the oven for a total of one minute - 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 300ºF. The goal is to just create a slightly warm environment for the bread. Next, she runs a tea towel under hot water and rings it out so it's just damp. Finally, she covers the bowl containing the bread with the damp tea towel and places it in the warm, turned-off oven to rise. It usually takes about an hour to double in bulk, but letting it rise for an hour and a half or up to two hours is fine. 4. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Grease two oven-safe bowls (such as the pyrex bowls I mentioned above) with about a tablespoon of butter each. (My mother might use even more - more butter not only adds flavor but also prevents sticking). 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. 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 30 minutes or until it has risen to just below or above (depending on what size bowl you are using) the top of the bowls. 5. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375º and make for 22 to 25 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.

SPANISH PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 2/3 C water.
• Combine with salt, sugar, 2C water and 5 C flour. Beat 5 minutes.
• Add enough remaining flour, beating with wooden spoon, until dough is soft. Knead vigorously for 5 minutes.
• Place in a large greased bowl and brush top with melted butter. Cover and allow to rise until double. Punch down.
• Form into 1 large or 2 small oblong rolls. Place on lightly greased baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Brush with egg yolk glaze and sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds.
• Put bread in cold oven and turn oven temperature to 400 dg. Bake for 45-50 minutes. The bread will rise with the temperature.

NO-KNEAD OATMEAL-MILLET PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Combine boiling water, oats, and millet in a large bowl. Let cool to 100 degrees F (38 degrees C), about 10 minutes.
• Dissolve yeast and salt in warm water in a small bowl. Let stand until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Stir into the oat-millet mixture. Add 2 3/4 cups flour; stir until dough forms a loose ball. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm, draft-free location until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Dust a cutting board with 1 tablespoon flour. Turn the dough out onto the board. Tuck in the edges gradually to shape dough into a boule (rustic, French-style ball) without kneading. Cover with a clean dish towel; let rise until nearly doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Place a lidded Dutch oven inside.
• Make 3 slashes on top of the dough boule using a serrated knife.
• Remove hot Dutch oven from the oven carefully. Uncover; sprinkle cornmeal over the bottom and place boule inside; cover with the lid. Reduce oven heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 28 minutes. Remove the lid and reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Continue baking until top is golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes more. Carefully lift loaf out of pan onto a work surface and gently tap bottom of loaf; if it sounds hollow, bread is done. Let cool for at least 1 hour on a wire rack.

PEASANT BREAD

Steps:

• Place the yeast and cumin in a large bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup of the water until the yeast is dissolved. Stir in the remaining 1 1/3 cups water. Stir in 2 cups of the flour and the salt. Gradually stir in the remaining flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. Place the dough in a large, clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough, knead for 5 minutes and divide in half. Sprinkle a large baking sheet lightly with cornmeal. Shape the dough into 2 round balls, flatten them slightly and place on the baking sheet.
• Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bake until the loaves are nicely browned and make a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom, about 40 minutes. Place on a rack to cool.