By Lindsey Scarber
Total time: 2.5 hours Prep:
70 min.
Rise 10-20 min. Oven:
350 F
Bake: abt 25 min. Makes: 4 loaves, or 4 dozen dinner
rolls
3 3/4 c. hot tap water
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. oil
7 c. fine-ground hard white wheat flour
2 T. instant dry yeast
2 T. white vinegar
(vinegar doesn’t change the flavor, it just helps soften the wheat and dissolve
phytic acid).
Mix and knead. Let rest for 60 min. Then add…
1 ¼ Tbsp. salt, or 1 heaping Tbsp. salt
1½ - 3 c. bread flour (high gluten flour) as
needed
Step 1 Yeast
Activation
In a large
bowl, or in a Bosch stand mixer with dough hook, Combine first 5 ingredients:
hot water, sugar, oil, and 8 c. whole wheat flour. Mix in yeast. Cover. Let rest for 30 min to activate yeast. Knead.
Let rest for another 30 min to allow whole wheat to soften and gluten to
form.
Step 2
Prepping
Meanwhile, grease bottom/sides of 4 bread pans for bread, or 2 half
bun sheet pans for rolls.
Step 3
Kneading
Mix in salt.
Gradually add ½ - 2 c. flour as needed. Add flour until there is no dough stuck to
the sides of the bowl and clean dry fingers stick to the dough only a little
bit.
With
slightly oiled hands, Knead dough.
Separate into 4 equal balls, or for rolls small 2 in. balls. On the countertop or a greased sheet pan, Pound
out the air bubbles, until the top of the dough is smooth. Place ball of dough in pans, coating top and
bottom of dough with oil.
Step 4
Rising and Baking
Let dough
rise 10-20 min in a warm quiet place, away from little hands that might want to
poke it. I like putting it in the cold/slightly warm oven. With bread still
rising in the oven, preheat oven to 350 F.
Bake bread
for 30-35 min. or until top and bottom of loaves are golden brown.
Bake rolls
for 15-17 min. or until tops are golden brown.
Step 5
Storing
Remove from pans immediately and place on a paper towel or metal
cookie rack. Hot bread can be sliced thick.
Wait 30 min before trying to slice thin.
Store in an air-tight container or bag at room temperature for 2-3
days. Store long-term in the freezer. Do
not store bread in fridge, it will cause it to dry out.
