Rye Bread The Real Stuff Recipes

RYE BREAD - THE REAL STUFF

Steps:

• This is the way to make a real rye bread (as opposed to a bread containing rye flour).
• I have deliberately not given any measures.
• Firstly, I don't know, secondly, you can't make a proper bread if you simply measure up things and mix them together.
• Instead you need to produce a dough that feels right- don't worry, it's easy.
• First make a sour dough starter.
• Simply mix some flour- one or two cups- with water to make a thick, but rather runny paste.
• Put salt on top to stop it moulding, put a lid on and place it in a nice, warm place, eg on a radiator.
• Note: This procedure won't succeed if there are no natural yeasts and acid bacteria in the flour or the air.
• I have never had a problem, but who knows how things are where you live.
• After a few days it will be foaming and have a sour smell; I personally find the smell rather foul, but that's the way it should be, as long as it is sour and not turning any strange colour or getting mouldy.
• When the starter is ready, mix it with some lukewarm water.
• If you made your starter with one cup of flour, use~1 pint of water now.
• Add some salt.
• At this point you can add some 'roughage' too, like soaked, whole rye kernels or whatever.
• As the last step begin adding rye flour while mixing until the dough is firm enough to hand-knead.
• Tip it out on a floured table and continue adding flour and kneading until you feel the dough is 'right': when it doesn't stick too much to everything.
• Put it in a baking tin and leave it to rise; this can take quite a long time, maybe 8 hours.
• If you let it rise too long, it can turn very sour, but I usually leave for 4- 8 hours.
• Finally bake it at perhaps 125- 150 degrees Centigrade- haven't got a clue what it is in Fahrenheit, but it's not very warm.
• It should bake for at least 2 hours and the door should not be fully closed.
• It is a good idea to spray the bread with water from time to time to ensure that the crust doesn't separate from the rest of the bread.
• This bread will often be very sticky inside when it is fresh.
• The best things to do about it (in my opinion) is to allow the bread to settle- dry out a bit, basically- for a day or two.
• Some people add some wheat flour to the recipe, but that's cheating if you ask me.
• One thing that gives this bread a very nice taste is malt.
• Another thing: horses are crazy about rye bread!

RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, sprinkle yeast over 1/2 cup water. Add 2 teaspoons honey. Whisk until yeast dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add remaining 1 3/4 cups water to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, along with remaining 3 tablespoons honey, butter, caraway seeds, and salt. Mix on low to combine. Gradually add both flours, one cup at a time, mixing until dough comes away from sides of bowl and forms a ragged, slightly sticky ball. Butter a large bowl.
• Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes. Shape into a ball. Transfer to prepared bowl; cover with plastic wrap.
• Let dough stand in a warm place until it doubled in volume (it should not spring back when pressed), about 1 hour. Butter two 4 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch loaf pans. Punch down dough and divide in half.
• Working with one piece of dough at a time, shape into a 7-by-7-inch square. Fold dough into thirds; press seam to adhere and pinch ends to seal. Place seam-side down in loaf pan. Repeat process with remaining piece of dough.
• In a small bowl, mix egg white with 1 teaspoon water and brush mixture over tops of loaves; sprinkle with caraway seeds.
• Spray two pieces of plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray; drape loaves with prepared plastic wrap and let stand until dough rises about 1 inch above tops of pans, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees on a conventional oven or 425 degrees on a convection oven. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees (conventional) or 375 degrees (convection).
• Uncover loaves and transfer to oven. Bake, rotating pans after 20 minutes, until tops are golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer to wire racks. Let cool slightly; turn out loaves. Let cool completely before slicing.

RUSTIC RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Stir in brown sugar, molasses, caraway seeds, oil, salt and remaining water. Add rye flour, whole wheat flour and 1 cup all-purpose flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a firm dough. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape each into a round loaf; place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Preheat oven to 350°., Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool.