Wholemeal Walnut and Date Bread
I absolutely love baking fresh bread. There's something incredibly satisfying about the whole process from the therapeutic kneading to the magical rising to the amazing way such simple ingredients come together to create a majestic loaf at the end of it all.
Fresh yeast is available in most supermarkets now - you'll find it in the fridges, usually near ready-rolled pastry - and it really makes a difference to the lightness of your loaf. I'm a huge lover of wholemeal flour as I think it has a lot more flavour than plain old white but feel free to experiment with whatever flours you like. Equally dates and walnuts are my favourite nuts and dried fruits when it comes to bread but, again, use your imagination!
Wholemeal Walnut and Date Bread
400g strong wholemeal flour
110g strong white flour
30g fresh yeast (or 10g dried fast-action)
15g salt
255ml water
90g dates, roughly chopped
90g walnuts, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Mix the flour, yeast, salt and water in a bowl with your hands until it becomes a soft, pliable dough. Place the dough on to a lightly floured, flat surface and knead for five minutes. Put the dough back in the bowl and leave to rise for an hour.
Bring the dough out and mix the dates and walnuts into it. Shape the dough into a loaf, and place on a baking tray. With a sharp knife, cut a line down the centre of the loaf. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, serve as it is or toasted with a generous helping of good butter.
Fresh yeast is available in most supermarkets now - you'll find it in the fridges, usually near ready-rolled pastry - and it really makes a difference to the lightness of your loaf. I'm a huge lover of wholemeal flour as I think it has a lot more flavour than plain old white but feel free to experiment with whatever flours you like. Equally dates and walnuts are my favourite nuts and dried fruits when it comes to bread but, again, use your imagination!
Wholemeal Walnut and Date Bread
400g strong wholemeal flour
110g strong white flour
30g fresh yeast (or 10g dried fast-action)
15g salt
255ml water
90g dates, roughly chopped
90g walnuts, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Mix the flour, yeast, salt and water in a bowl with your hands until it becomes a soft, pliable dough. Place the dough on to a lightly floured, flat surface and knead for five minutes. Put the dough back in the bowl and leave to rise for an hour.
Bring the dough out and mix the dates and walnuts into it. Shape the dough into a loaf, and place on a baking tray. With a sharp knife, cut a line down the centre of the loaf. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, serve as it is or toasted with a generous helping of good butter.
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