From the author: For $5 you can make several loaves of some of the greatest bread you’ve had. And don’t be fooled by the ‘easy’ skill level – it’s easier than that. Also, don’t be thrown off by the prep time. A large majority of the time consists of simply waiting for the dough to rise while you do whatever else you want. It barely counts. Free Formed Bread for the win!

The other thing I love about this recipe is that it makes a large batch of dough, which you throw in a freezer bag, put in the fridge and when you want some bread, you can cut off a chunk and in a little over an hour, you have a fresh loaf.

Seriously, try this. I did and I can’t stop eating it.

From Plant-Based on a Budget:

One of the greatest pleasures in life is digging into a loaf of freshly baked bread. The smell, the warmth, and that soft texture are so good and comforting, right? This is why this recipe is so precious to us. You can have it any day in the comfort of your home, and it doesn’t take days or amazing baking skills to achieve it.

Minimum Ingredients & Maximum Flavor

Our favorite recipes are usually the ones that use very few and basic pantry-staple ingredients, and this one definitely falls under that category. To prepare this fluffy Free Formed Bread, you’ll only need water, yeast, salt and flour. Nothing more. The secret of this bread (as with many other kinds) is in the process, or should I say in patience?

Be Patient!

Patience is a virtue. It turns out the saying applies 100% to this Free Formed Bread recipe. I wish I could tell you the process is quick … but it isn’t. Why? Because we need to give time for the bread to rise. The process of rising is what makes bread fluffy and irresistible. We promise you, though, it’s definitely worth the wait!

Recommended equipment:

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

Ingredients

3 cups of lukewarm water

1 1/2 tablespoons of granulated yeast (about 2 packets - any brand/style will do)

1 1/2 tablespoons of coarse salt

6 1/2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour

Method