homemade bread never tasted this good
Few things can rival the satisfaction of slicing into a loaf fresh from the oven, especially when it's packed with wholesome goodness!
This wheat berry bread is not just a treat for the taste buds but also a wholesome indulgence, boasting a medley of flavors and nutrients with a rustic charm that will have your whole family wanting more.
The earthy, nutty richness of red wheat berries, complemented by hints of honey, nutmeg, and cacao powder, promise a hearty, nourishing wheat berry bread.
Read more: Homemade bread vs. store-bought bread
WHEAT BERRY BREAD RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup of lukewarm water
- 1 Packet of Yeast (7g)
- 2 and a half Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Tbsp Honey
- 1 1/2 Cups Bread Flour (*or all-purpose flour)
- 1 Tsp. Salt
- 1 Tsp. Cacao Powder
- Half a teaspoon of Nutmeg
- 1 1/2 Cups Wholewheat Flour
- 1 1/2 Cups Cooked Hard Red Wheat Berries **
Directions:
To prepare the wheat berries:
- In a bowl, cover the wheat berries with water and soak overnight or for at least 5 hours.
- Place the wheat berries in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer for about 45 minutes, add more water if needed.
- Drain and cool the cooked wheat berries. Roughly chop the wheat berries in a blender or by hand.
To make the bread:
- Pour the lukewarm water into a mixing bowl and add the yeast. Mix until dissolved, and rest for 5 minutes.
- Add the olive oil and honey, and mix thoroughly.
- Add 1 cup of the bread flour, salt, cacao powder and nutmeg. Mix to combine.
- Add the remaining bread flour and the wholewheat flour and mix to combine. At this point, you can use an electric mixer or the old-fashioned way, using your hands.
- Add the wheat berries and knead for about 5 to 8 minutes. If the dough is too dry, you can add a tablespoon of water at a time.
- Rest for 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead to deflate. Shape the dough, place it in a 9 x 5 inch bread pan, and let it rise for 1.5 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Bake the bread for 35–40 minutes.
Notes:
* You can substitute bread flour with all-purpose flour, but take note that bread made with all-purpose flour may have a little less chew than those made with bread flour.
** You can use any wheat berries you prefer, although hard red, hard white, and soft white wheat berries often work the best for bread.
Read more: Comparing different wheat berries and how to use them
