500g/1lb 1oz strong white bread flour, plus a
little extra flour for finishing
12g/2 sachets fast-action dried yeast
about 300ml/10¾fl oz tepid water (warm not cold –
about body temperature)
Put the flour into a large mixing
bowl and add the butter. Add the yeast at one side of the bowl and add the salt
at the other, otherwise the salt will kill the yeast. Stir all the ingredients
with a spoon to combine.
Add half of the water and turn the mixture
round with your fingers. Continue to add water a little at a time, combining
well, until you’ve picked up all of the flour from the sides of the bowl. You
may not need to add all of the water, or you may need to add a little more –
you want a dough that is well combined and soft, but not sticky or soggy. Mix
with your fingers to make sure all of the ingredients are combined and use the
mixture to clean the inside of the bowl. Keep going until the mixture forms a
rough dough.
Use about a teaspoon of oil to
lightly grease a clean work surface (using oil instead of flour will keep the
texture of the dough consistent). Turn out your dough onto the greased work
surface (make sure you have plenty of space).
Fold the far edge of the dough into
the middle of the dough, then turn the dough by 45 degrees and repeat. Do this
several times until the dough is very lightly coated all over in olive oil.
Now use your hands to knead the
dough: push the dough out in one direction with the heel of your hand, then fold
it back on itself. Turn the dough by 90 degrees and repeat. Kneading in this
way stretches the gluten and makes the dough elastic. Do this for about 4 or 5
minutes until the dough is smooth and stretchy. Work quickly so that the
mixture doesn’t stick to your hands – if it does get too sticky you can add a
little flour to your hands.
Clean and lightly oil your mixing
bowl and put the dough back into it. Cover with a damp tea towel or lightly
oiled cling film and set it aside to prove. This gives the yeast time to work:
the dough should double in size. This should take around one hour, but will
vary depending on the temperature of your room (don’t put the bowl in a hot
place or the yeast will work too quickly).
Line a baking tray with baking or
silicone paper (not greaseproof).
Once the dough has doubled in size
scrape it out of the bowl to shape it. The texture should be bouncy and shiny.
Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knock it back by kneading it
firmly to 'knock' out the air. Use your hand to roll the dough up, then turn by
45 degrees and roll it up again. Repeat several times. Gently turn and smooth
the dough into a round loaf shape.
Place the loaf onto the lined baking
tray, cover with a tea towel or lightly oiled cling film and leave to prove
until it’s doubled in size. This will take about an hour, but may be quicker or
slower depending on how warm your kitchen is.
Preheat the oven to 220C (200C fan
assisted)/425F/Gas 7. Put an old, empty roasting tin into the bottom of the
oven.
After an hour the loaf should have
proved (risen again). Sprinkle some flour on top and very gently rub it in. Use
a large, sharp knife to make shallow cuts (about 1cm/½in deep) across the top
of the loaf to create a diamond pattern.
Put the loaf (on its baking tray)
into the middle of the oven. Pour cold water into the empty roasting tray at
the bottom of the oven just before you shut the door – this creates steam which
helps the loaf develop a crisp and shiny crust.
Bake the loaf for about 30 minutes.
The loaf is cooked when it’s risen
and golden. To check, take it out of the oven and tap it gently underneath – it
should sound hollow. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
