Recipes / By

multi-grain loaf

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup multi-grain cereal, unsweetened
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 envelope dry yeast
  • 4 1/3 cups to 5 cups bread flour
  • 1 tbs. olive oil
  • 1 tbs. dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. sesame seeds
  • 2 tsp. flax seeds
  • 2 tsp. poppy seeds
  • 2 cups water

PREPARATION

  1. Place multi-grain cereal in a large bowl and pour 2 cups boiling water over it. Let stand until mixture cools to a reasonable temperature. This should take around 20 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle the yeast over the cooled cereal and add 1 cup bread flour. Also add in the sugar, oil, and salt and mix until relatively smooth. Slowly incorporate enough of the remaining flour to create soft dough. Form into a ball and cover with a clean kitchen towel and rest for 15 minutes.
  3. Next, remove dough from bowl and put on floured surface. Knead for about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic, making sure to add more flour when the dough is still sticky.
  4. Oil a large clean bowl and put dough formed into a ball into the bowl. Turn once to coat all sides with oil, cover bowl with the kitchen towel, and let the dough rise for one hour or until double in size. This should be done in a warm place.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix all the seeds and set aside. Punch down the risen dough and remove from bowl. Put on a lightly oiled surface and knead briefly. Next, shape the dough into a 12×4-inch loaf.
  6. Place 2 teaspoons of the mixed seeds onto a baking sheet and place the loaf on top of the seeds. Cover this with a clean and dry towel. Let this rise in a warm area of your kitchen until almost double in size. This should take around 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat your home or bakery oven to 425F or 218C. Place an oven rack in the center and another one just one level below it. Put an empty baking tray on the lower rack.
  8. Next, brush your multi-grain loaf with plain water and sprinkle the top with the remaining seed mixture. With a sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes on the surface of the loaf.
  9. Before placing your loaf on the top rack to bake, pour 2 cups water of hot water into the empty baking pan in the lower rack. This will create steam.
  10. Place your loaf in the oven and bake until golden and crusty. Bread should be done around 35 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven, transfer to rack, and cool.