Mark Bittman has this recipe but calls for “instant yeast” and says you can skip the rise. I just buy the 2 pound packs of regular active dry yeast at Costco. I keep a small jar in the refrigerator and keep the rest in the freezer. Since I don’t have the “instant yeast” around I find the rising time necessary, but you can still turn out a small loaf of bread in a couple of hours that is decent and home-baked. I also make this in my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook periodically.
Mark Bittman’s Fast Bread
A faster way to get bread on the table.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp yeast
- 1 1/4 cup warm water
Instructions
- In a food processor, mix the flour, yeast, and salt until blended. Add the water and mix about 30 seconds. Shape into a loaf, round or oblong, and place on a greased pan. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for an hour. (You can get by with less if need be. I like to turn the oven on for a minute, then turn it off and put the bread in there to rise if I don’t need the oven in the meantime.)
- Preheat the oven to 425 and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.
Synchronicity? I’m also making bread today, but not french dinner rolls. Personally, I don’t have any use for so-called instant yeast. I learned that the rise was much different from regular yeast, and it even had a different flavor!
Yes, straight from the food processor! I did shape it but did not knead it. It’s not a “light” bread but it’s good. I make bread the regular way too periodically. Got quite into it for a while, in fact, after reading Walden Pond. This is not as good but it is good.
The yeast at Costco comes in a 2 pound bag I think, vacuum-packed.
No kneading? Straight from food processor into the pans, one rise?
(I made bread today, which is why I’m looking at this recipe with amazement. Also, which yeast do they have at Costco? Since I’m getting into the whole bread thing, might as well check out their bulk baking supplies…)