Everyday Whole-Wheat Bread
This whole-wheat loaf is excellent for sandwiches, toast or eating plain. It has a light, springy texture and a mellow, slightly sweet grain taste from cracked wheat. The crust is crisp when the bread is first baked, but gradually softens as it stands. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.
Gallery
Ingredients
Directions
Tips
To make ahead: Wrap airtight and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Note: Milled from high-protein wheats, bread flour develops strong gluten, resulting in well-risen loaves. It helps give breads with a high percentage of whole grains better structure and a lighter texture. Find it near other flours in most supermarkets.
Tips: Bulgur is parboiled cracked whole wheat. Cracked wheat is, literally, cracked whole wheat berries. Find either near other whole grains or bread-baking supplies in supermarkets or natural-foods stores. (You can use whole wheat berries that have been chopped in a blender or coffee mill in place of the bulgur or cracked wheat.)
To prepare “ice water” for this recipe, add a heaping cup of ice cubes to cold water and stir for about 30 seconds before measuring out the water.
You can turn your microwave into a warm, moist environment to help accelerate the second rise of the bread dough. Begin by microwaving 1/2 cup water in a 1-cup glass measure just to boiling. Set the water in one corner of the microwave, place the pan of dough on the other side of the turned-off microwave and close the door. The dough will double in size in 45 minutes to 11/2 hours.
Nutrition Facts
2 starch, 1/2 fat