Story? Well, not really. Just following the trend. The quarantine brought out my creativity and desperation in equal parts. And I joined the bandwagon of people trying out new recipes during the lockdown! Bread is not just for eating … it can be a work of art too! Having said that, I found myself hesitating to cut and eat my bread. Well, you can’t have your bread and eat it too 😉
This is a simple, foolproof recipe but don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it right the first time.
Warm the water and mix sugar in it. Sprinkle yeast powder on it and wait till it gets frothy (about 10 minutes).
Mix flour, oil, and 1 tsp salt in a big glass bowl and add the yeast water to it; knead for about 10 minutes to make a tight dough. Cover the bowl with a cling wrap. Leave to prove for an hour in a warm place till it rises considerably.
Place the dough on a parchment paper on the baking tray. Flatten the dough to a desired shape by using your fingers, about half an inch thick. Drizzle 2 tsp olive oil and sprinkle some salt. Bring out the artist in you and decorate your canvas, as you please, with the toppings.
Wait for another hour before you bake in the oven at 200°C for 20–25 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with olive oil. I love it warm.
Good on its own or can be dipped in soup.
Room temperature
Remember to preheat the oven for 15 minutes before baking the bread.
If the yeast doesn’t turn frothy, it’s useless. Start afresh with new yeast.
Keep both rods of the oven on.
Proving after kneading and again after decorating is mandatory. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!
Fresh herbs: I used a mix of thyme, oregano, rosemary, and basil.
