The bakers at King Arthur Flour came up with this super-high-fiber bread. Its nutty whole-grain taste and texture make particularly great sandwiches and toast.

Makes 1 loaf (12 slices)

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 3 hours 25 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

1/3 cup whole flaxseeds (see Tip)
1 3/4 cups lukewarm water
1 tablespoon honey
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 1/4 cups bread flour (see Ingredient Note) or all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup pumpernickel or dark rye flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour (see Note)
1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water for glaze

1. Grind flaxseeds into a coarse meal in a spice mill (such as a clean coffee grinder) or dry blender. Set aside 2 teaspoons for topping.
2. Stir lukewarm water and honey in a large bowl until the honey is dissolved. Sprinkle in yeast and let stand until it bubbles, about 5 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup bread flour (or all-purpose flour), pumpernickel (or rye) flour, salt and the remaining ground flaxseeds. With a wooden spoon, stir vigorously in the same direction until the batter is smooth. Gradually stir in whole-wheat flour until it becomes too difficult to stir. (Alternatively, mix dough in a stand-up mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.)
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding only enough of the remaining bread flour (or all-purpose flour) to keep it from sticking, until smooth and elastic, 10 to 12 minutes. (The dough will be slightly sticky.)
5. Place the dough in a large oiled bowl. Turn to coat and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
6. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Punch the dough down, flatten into a disk and tightly roll into a log. Place seam-side down in the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray; let rise until the dough domes over the top of the pan, about 45 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly brush the loaf with the egg mixture and sprinkle with the reserved 2 teaspoons ground flaxseed.
8. Bake the bread for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° and continue baking until the bread pulls away from the sides of the pan, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 191 calories; 4 g fat (0 g sat, 1 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 35 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 6 g fiber; 301 mg sodium; 198 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Folate (16% daily value).


2 Carbohydrate Servings

TIP: Tip: Store flaxseed in the refrigerator or freezer. Flaxseed is available from King Arthur Flour or in health-food stores.

Ingredient note: Milled from high-protein wheats, bread flour develops strong gluten when kneaded, resulting in well-risen loaves. It is generally recommended for bread machines and is valuable when making breads with a high percentage of whole-wheat flour.

Note: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour.