This slow rise einkorn bread is really quite a treat. Is there anything quite like an artisan bread that has slowly developed flavors, with a hard crust and chewy middle? No, no there really isn’t. The key to the beautiful crust is a dutch oven. The heavy pot with the tight lid that seals on top simulates a professional bread oven circulating the stem back upon itself. It’s as close as we will get to the real thing here at home.
1. Proof 1/2 tsp of yeast in the warm water. I tend to go a little on the hotter side, as long as you don’t go over 110 degrees you are ok.
2. Sift 5 Cups of Einkorn flour, 1/2 tsp sea salt, and 1/3 c powdered milk together.
3. Add the water/yeast mixture into your dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. The dough will be fairly sticky.
4. Scrape the sides of your bowl down to incorporate then cover with plastic wrap.
5. Let it rise for 14 hours in a dark place. The slow rise develops volume and flavor at the same time.
6. After 14 hours preheat your oven to 500 with the dutch oven AND lid in the middle of your oven. This dutch oven is the key to the artisan type of bread.
7. Turn your dough out onto a floured surface. Don’t work the dough too much. I fold each side of the dough inward like an envelope to create some more pockets of air.
8. Once your oven is preheated, place your loaf into the dutch oven, place the lid on it and close your oven. Do this as quick as possible so you do not lose your heat.
9. Bake for 35 minutes, take the lid off and bake for another 5-10 minutes.
10. Cool on a rack until completely cool.
11. Enjoy!
(For a more detailed version of this recipe go, HERE)