Whole Wheat Bread
Grind your own whole wheat flour and use it to make this easy homemade bread.
Ingredients
- 1 package (7 g) active dry yeast
- 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) water, 105 to 115°F (40 to 46°C)
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 ¾ cups (390 g) whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- To proof the yeast, combine warm water, honey, and yeast. Stir quickly to combine. Set aside for 5-10 minutes to bloom. While the proofing yeast, lightly coat an 8½-inch x 4½-inch (22 cm x 11 cm) loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray.
- Place the flour and salt into the Vitamix container and secure the lid. Start the blender on its lowest speed and increase speed to Variable 6. Blend until a hole forms in the center of the mixture, about 5 seconds. Turn the machine off and remove lid plug.
- Pour oil, fresh lemon juice, and yeast mixture into the hole in the flour. Secure lid plug. To mix the dough, select Variable 6. Pulse 5-6 times. .
- Remove the lid. Use a nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container. Pull the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture. Select the highest setting. Pulse 5-6 times.
- Repeat the above two-step process two times, or until the dough binds together in a soft, elastic mixture. To remove the dough from the container, invert the container over a lightly floured cutting board. Knead the bread until elastic. Shape the loaf and place into prepared loaf pan.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm place, uncovered, until the top of it reaches the top of the bread pan, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- If desired, brush the loaf quickly and gently with an egg white wash and make three to four diagonal slits about ¼-inch (.6 cm) deep on the top of the loaf using a sharp, serrated knife.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the bread is well browned and reaches an internal temperature of 200°F (93°C) when tested with an instant read thermometer.
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan and allow to cool completely before slicing.
Chef's Notes
To grind your own whole wheat flour, take 2 1/2 cups of whole kernel wheat and blend on high speed for 1 minute, using the tamper if necessary. Remove the lid and allow the flour to cool for several minutes before using. Measure out by gram weight the amount of whole wheat flour needed, as this will yield the most accurate results. 390g of wheat berries will be the same weight, but a different volume, once processed into flour. Applesauce can be used as a substitute for oil or eggs in most baking recipes.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon dry yeast
- 1¼ cup (300 ml) water, 105 to 115 degrees F (40-46 degrees C
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2¾ cup (390 g) whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon light olive oil
Directions
- To proof the yeast, combine warm water, honey, and yeast. Stir quickly to combine. Set aside for about 5 minutes.
- Place the flour and salt into the Vitamix Dry Grains container and secure the lid. Select Variable 1. Start the machine and slowly increase speed to Variable 6. Blend until a hole forms in the center of the mixture, about 5 seconds. Turn the machine off and remove the lid.
- Pour oil, lemon juice, and yeast mixture into the hole in the flour. Secure the lid.
- To mix the dough, turn the machine on High for 1 second. Stop the machine. Remove the lid.
- While the dough rests, lightly coat an 8½-inch x 4½-inch (22 cm x 11 cm) loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray or shortening.
- To knead the dough, two steps are required.
- Step 1: Use a nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container. Pull the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture.
- Step 2: With the machine on High, quickly turn the machine on and off five times.
- Repeat the above two-step process five times, or until the dough binds together in a soft, elastic mixture. To remove the dough from the container, turn the machine on and off five times (to lift the dough up and away from the blades). Invert the container over the prepared pan and let the dough fall into the pan. Use a wet nylon spatula to remove any remaining dough.
- Use a wet or oiled nylon spatula (or lightly floured fingers) to shape the loaf. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place, until the top of it reaches the top of the bread pan, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- If desired, brush the loaf quickly and gently with an egg white wash and make three to four diagonal slits about ¼-inch (.6 cm) deep on the top of the loaf using a sharp, serrated knife.
- Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes or until the bread is well browned and reaches an internal temperature of 200°F (93°C) when tested with an instant read thermometer.
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan and allow to cool completely before slicing.
Chef's Notes
To grind your own whole wheat flour, take 2 1/2 cups of whole kernel wheat and blend on high speed for 1 minute, using the tamper if necessary. Remove the lid and allow the flour to cool for several minutes before using. Measure out by gram weight the amount of whole wheat flour needed. If you are baking this recipe, use the specified gram weight (390g) for the most accurate results. 390g of wheat berries will equal the same amount of whole wheat flour once ground down.
