Everyday White Bread Recipe

I have been a huge fan of baking bread on my own. It's always been a food fantasy of mine which was recently fulfilled...a number of times! 

Bread can be made in a million different ways involving different techniques, kneading methods, proof times, ingredients, and whatnot! To the point that it actually becomes overwhelming for a new baker to even attempt baking bread on their own. I know it was for me.

But I started experimenting with different loaves of bread while we were in lockdown, and soon I realized, I have the perfect bread recipe for anyone to start with. 

It's simple, straightforward, and uses no fancy techniques. You do need yeast for this one, but trust me, there is something so satisfying about making your own bread that it makes the whole I-Have-To-Buy-Yeast-For-This ordeal worth it! 

Yield - 1 bread loaf, ~10 Slices
Baking Time - 25 Min, Prep Time - 2.5 Hrs
Total Time - 3 Hrs

Baking Dish - 

8 inches(200 cm) by 4 inches(100 cm) by 3 inches(75 cm) high Loaf Pan

Ingredients -

1. All-Purpose Flour - 270 g
2. Instant Yeast - 1.5 tsp
3. Sugar - 1.5 tsp 
4. Milk - 200 ml
5. Salted Butter - 4 tbsp
6. Salt - 1.5 tsp

How to make -

1. We'll start with lukewarm Milk (200 ml) and add the sugar & yeast to it. Since we are using Instant Yeast (1.5 tsp), it can be added directly to the flour as well. But this step is done to check if the yeast is alive and active or not. 

2. If the yeast & milk mixture does not show any changes, the yeast is probably dead and you need new yeast before starting to make bread. 

3. In a bowl take the Flour (270 g), add salt and give it a quick stir. 

4. Add the yeast & milk mixture and mix with the spatula to hydrate the flour. 

5. Once everything has come together in a rough ball, its time to start kneading. Knead the dough for 12 min straight with your hands. 

6. After 12 mins, add 2 tbsp butter to the dough and knead again for 5 min. 

7. You should get soft and smooth dough by now. Place the dough ball in a greased bowl and cover with a cloth or clear wrap and let it proof for 1 Hr or till the dough becomes double in size. 

8. Once the dough is puffed up to double its size, take it out of the bowl and press it slowly to distribute the air (which is inside the dough) evenly. 

9. Fold the dough into a rectangle and roll out with a rolling pin (belan).

10. Once the dough is large enough in length to fit in the bread pan, roll the dough sheet into a log (check the video for more details)

11. Place the log into the greased bread pan and let it rest again for 1 Hr or till the time it comes above the bread pan. 

12. Give the top of the dough a milk wash and place it in a pre-heated oven at 200℃ for 25 min. 

13. As soon as the bread comes out of the oven, apply about 1-2 tbsp butter on it and then cover with a damp cloth to let it cool in a moist environment. 

14. Demould and cut the bread once its completely cooled. 

Enjoy your own homemade bread!