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no-knead bread

Northwestgal avatar
Recipe by
Vickie Parks
@Northwestgal
Renton, WA

This is said to be the famed recipe from New York City's Sullivan Street Bakery, though they won't confirm that it's the actual recipe they use. It requires no kneading, no special equipment and no special technique. And it requires is a little effort -- just a little patience, because it requires almost 24 hours for the slow fermentation process that makes this perfect loaf of bread so tasty. No wonder it's a customer favorite.

yield 10 to 12 (makes a 1 1/2-pound loaf)
prep time 23 Hr
cook time 1 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For no-knead bread

  • 3 c
    all-purpose flour or bread flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/4 tsp
    instant yeast
  • 1 1/4 tsp
    salt
  • 1 5/8 c
    water
  • cornmeal or additional flour, as needed

How To Make no-knead bread

  • 1
    In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70°.
  • 2
    Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
  • 3
    Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (NOT TERRY CLOTH) with flour or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger
  • 4
    At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450°F. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats.
  • 5
    When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, uncovered, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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