Dutch Oven Bread (Several Variations)

Ingredients

Oma Hanni

This bread has a denser crumb than the white versions because rye flour doesn’t have any gluten in it and wheat flour has a lower percentage of gluten per cup than bread/white flour.

  • 1.5 C bread flour (1 C)
  • 1 C wheat flour (1.5 C)
  • 1/2 C rye flour
  • 1.5 t instant dry yeast
  • 1 t dill weed (2/3 t)
  • 2 t salt (1 t)
  • 2 t coriander, ground (1.5 t)
  • 2 t caraway seeds
  • 2 t garlic powder (2/3 t)
  • 1.75 C lukewarm water

White (and all varieties listed below)

  • 3 C bread flour
    • NOTE: some recipes change the flour. It’s always 3 cups.
  • 1 t instant dry yeast
  • 2 t salt
  • 1.5 C lukewarm water

Oat

Change flour to

  • 2 C bread flour
  • 1 C quick oats

Wheat

Change flour to

  • 1.75 C bread flour
  • 1.25 C whole wheat flour

Four Cheese

Shredded cheese bakes into the crumb to give it a cheesy flavor and soft texture

  • With main ingredients
    • 1–2 C shredded Trader Joe’s Quattro Formaggio
    • Reduce main salt if cheese is salty
    • 1/4 C green onion, chopped
  • During bake—after removing lid
    • Sprinkle additional shredded cheese

Tomato Basil Cheese

  • With main ingredients
    • 2 T tomato paste
    • 1 C shredded cheese
      • Reduce main salt if cheese is salty
    • 1/4 C basil leaves, finely shredded

Italian

  • With main ingredients
    • 1 T Italian seasoning
    • 1 C asiago or parmesan cheese
  • During bake—after removing lid
    • Generously spray with olive oil
    • Sprinkle with flaky sea salt

Spicy Cheese

  • With main ingredients
    • 1.5 t red pepper flakes
    • 4oz extra sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
    • 4oz pepper jack cheese, cubed
    • Most of a green onion bunch, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • Before placing in oven
    • 1 large egg yolk, brushed onto surface
    • 0.5 t red pepper flakes, sprinkled on top
  • During Bake—after removing lid
    • Sprinkle shredded cheese in area of bread that split from the score

Roasted Garlic and Herb

  • With main ingredients
    • 1 T thyme leaves, fresh and chopped
    • 2 t rosemary leaves, fresh and finely chopped
  • While main dough is rising
    • 1 garlic, large head
      • Remove excess papery skins, slice a thin layer off top to expose top of cloves
      • Wrap completely in foil and bake at 400º until tender (~30 min)
      • Let cool completely before squeezing cloves out of skins
  • During Pre-bake
    • Sprinkle the following ingredients over the dough and fold over four times to incorporate the add-ins
      • Roasted garlic cloves, chopped
    • Flip the dough over and quickly shape into a round ball
  • During bake—after removing lid
    • Generously spray with olive oil
    • Sprinkle with flaky sea salt

Cheddar and Jalapeño

  • With main ingredients
  • During Pre-bake
    • 4 oz cheddar cheese, cubed
    • 4 oz grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 thinly sliced jalapeño
    • 3 finely chopped green onions

Bacon and Cheddar

  • With main ingredients
    • 1 lb crispy cooked bacon
    • 2 T bacon fat
    • 1–2 C sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions

Initial Prep

  1. Whisk all grain-like ingredients in a 3–4 quart bowl with a tight fitting lid or use plastic wrap to create a seal
  2. Add any chunky ingredients, such as cubed cheese, etc.
  3. Add the water and stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon until the dough is mixed well and there is no more loose powder. The dough will be quite sticky and shaggy looking
  4. Seal the bowl and let it rise until it seems to have reached its maximum size

Pre-bake

  1. Once doubled in size and bubbly, transfer the dough with hands spritzed with cooking spray to lightly floured parchment paper
  2. Quickly shape into a round ball and cover with a towel
  3. Let rise until nearly doubled in size (about 1–1.5 hours)
  4. About one hour in, preheat oven to 450º F with cast iron Dutch oven and lid inside (heating the Dutch oven for at least 30 minutes)

Bake

  1. Carefully lower parchment paper and dough into the Dutch oven
  2. Cover with the lid and bake in the oven for 30 minutes
  3. Remove the lid and bake uncovered for an additional 10–15 minutes
  4. Remove from the oven and gently shake the loaf onto a cooling rack and enjoy the beautiful aroma
  5. Let it cool before cutting into the loaf otherwise the crumb inside will crush as you try to cut it
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Cooking Method