Several of you have told us how hard it is to find bread that does not contain soya so you might want to think about making it yourself. This recipe from Darina Allen, from the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School, is simple, delicious and doesn’t require any kneading.
Darina says: “When making Ballymaloe brown yeast bread, remember that yeast is a living organism. In order to grow, it requires warmth, moisture and nourishment. The yeast feeds on the sugar and produces bubbles of carbon dioxide which causes the bread to rise. Heat of over 50˚C will kill yeast. Have the ingredients and equipment at blood heat.
White or brown sugar, honey golden syrup, treacle or molasses may be used. Each will give a slightly different flavour to the bread. At Ballymaloe we use treacle. The dough rises more rapidly with 30g (1oz) yeast than with 25g (3/4oz) yeast.
We use a stone ground wholemeal. Different flours produce breads of different textures and flavours. The amount of natural moisture in the flour varies according to atmospheric conditions. The quantity of water should be altered accordingly. The dough should be just too wet to knead – in fact, it does not require kneading. The main ingredients – wholemeal flour, treacle and yeast are highly nutritious.”
Makes 1 loaf
Ingredients
- 400g strong (stone-ground) wholemeal flour plus 50g strong white flour
- 425ml water at blood heat
- 1 teaspoon black treacle or molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 20g – 30g fresh non-GM yeast
- Optional: sesame seeds
- 1 loaf tin 13 x 20cm approx.
- sunflower oil
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 230˚C/450˚F/Gas Mark 8.
2. Mix the flour with the salt. The ingredients should all be at room temperature.
3. In a small bowl or Pyrex jug, mix the treacle with some of the water, 150ml (5fl oz) and crumble in the yeast – do not stir once the yeast has gone in. Sit the bowl for a few minutes in a warm place to allow the yeast to start to work. Check to see if the yeast is rising. After about 4 or 5 minutes it will have a creamy and slightly frothy appearance on top.
4. When ready, stir and pour it, with all the remaining water (275ml/9fl oz), into the flour to make a loose-wet dough. The mixture should be too wet to knead. Allow to sit in the bowl for 7-10 minutes (time varies depending on room temperature).
5. Meanwhile, brush the base and sides of the bread tin with sunflower oil.
6. Scoop the mixture into the greased tin.
7. Sprinkle the top of the loaves with sesame seeds if you like.
8. Put the tin in a warm place somewhere close to the cooker or near a radiator perhaps. Cover the tin with a tea towel to prevent a skin from forming.
9. After about 10-15 minutes, just as the bread comes to the top of the tin, remove the tea towel and pop it into the oven for 20 minutes, then turn the oven down to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6 for another 40-50 minutes or until it looks nicely browned and sound hollow when tapped. The bread will rise a little further in the oven. This is called “oven spring”. If, however, the bread rises over the top of the tin before it goes into the oven it will continue to rise and flow over the edges.
Team Tip: Darina usually removes the loaf from the tin about 10 minutes before the end of cooking and put it back into the oven to crisp all round, but if you like a softer crust there’s no need to do this.
Team Tip: Dried yeast may be used instead of fresh yeast. Follow the same method but use only half the weight given for fresh yeast. Allow longer to rise. Fast-acting yeast may also be used, follow the instructions on the packet.
Copyright Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School
**Always check the ingredients of any food you’re cooking with to make sure it doesn’t contain something you or your child should avoid.
