| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 25 mins – 30 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 210 | 3.75g | 0g | 36.33g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 4.16g | 1.33g | 5.83g | 0.59g |
About White Bread
There is a reason the common phrase ‘best thing since sliced bread’ came into existence. Bread, in all its glorious forms and functions, has been a fundamental part of our diet for centuries. And at the top of our hierarchy of hallowed breads resides the humble, nutritive, and versatile White Bread.
The beauty of this bread is not merely in its soft, white crumb or its lightly browned crust, but the simplicity of its ingredients. It consists of items that are staples in our pantries: yeast, sugar, salt, water, flour, and vegetable oil. The combination of these ingredients, although modest, lays the foundation for countless culinary creations.
This White Bread, once baked, can take center stage as a sandwich bread piled high with deli meats and cheese, or be enveloped by a sweet bath of cinnamon and egg to become a luxurious French toast. It can even stand tall as the neutral canvas on which the vibrant colors of bruschetta are painted or simply serve as a buffer between your fingers and a hot bowl of chicken soup. Its uses are virtually infinite; it can be part of an everyday breakfast toast paired perfectly with a smear of butter and jam or a component of a gourmet canape at an exclusive soirée.
Like French Baguettes or Italian Focaccia, this White Bread recipe relies on the magical transformation of a few basic ingredients, catalyzed by the enigmatic power of yeast. However, unlike its sometimes-complex cousins, this bread has an easy and straightforward preparation, making it the ideal choice for novice bakers who may fear the sometimes-perplexing art of breadmaking.
However, let’s not consider our White Bread as just an entry-level loaf; it earns its laurels in the kitchen time and time again. Its slightly sweet taste and cloud-like texture make it an easy association with comfort and solace.
So, when we make this bread, we’re not merely baking. We’re subscribing to a simpler time when food was elemental, meals were shared, and bread, in its simplest form, was far more than just an accompaniment. Our simple, homely white bread encapsulates all that and more, waiting to be sliced and savored, one loaf at a time.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)
- 2 tablespoons of white sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
Method
Step One
Prepare a small bowl and dissolve the 2 tablespoons of white sugar in 1 cup of warm water (aim for 110-115 degrees F). Ensure that the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
Step Two
Add 2 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast to the water and sugar mixture. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, until the yeast becomes creamy.
Step Three
In a larger bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 3 cups of flour. Add the yeast mixture to this and mix until forms a dough.
Step Four
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
Step Five
Punch down the dough and knead in 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Let it rise again for another 1 hour, until it doubles in volume again.
Step Six
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in a loaf pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. When you take it out of the oven, tip it out onto a wire rack and let it cool before slicing.
