500g white or wholemeal flour (strong bread flour best but any will do), plus a bit extra
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried yeast (or one sachet)
200-300ml very warm water
Optional: For pizzas, you will also need 200ml of tomato sauce, grated cheese and any topping you like
What to do
You will need a loaf tin about 24×12 cm, or any baking tin or cake tin will do if you don’t have one.
Grease the baking tin thoroughly and then put about 1 tsp Flour into and shake it around until all the surfaces are thinly covered by flour.
Put all the dry ingredients in a big mixing bowl.
With very clean hands mix the ingredients and start adding the water, mixing as you go.
Use as much water as needed to make the dough soft and silky and easy to squidge in your hands.
On a clean surface sprinkle some of the extra flour and tip the dough on to it and knead it for a about 5 minutes and then make into a big ball.
Put the ball back in the mixing bowl and cover with a clean t-towel and leave for about half an hour in a warm place. The ball should double in size.
Put the ball of dough back on the counter knead it again for about 5 minutes, and then roll it into a big sausage shape or whatever shape you need to fit the tin.Push the dough into the tin, cover with a t-towel and leave to prove again for another half hour. If you are making pizzas roll out the dough and top with tomato, cheese and toppings. Place on a baking tray.
Meanwhile pre-heat the over to gas mark 7/ 200c
When the dough has risen put the tin in the oven and bake for about 25- 40 minutes. Baking time depends on tin size and shape so check from about 25 mins onward. Pizzas will only take about 10 minutes to cook.
The bread is ready when it is a lovely golden brown colour and when you tap it with your fingers it sounds hollow.
“To make 2 pizzas-roll out the dough thinly and top with tomato sauce and cheese, and any other topping you like-bake for 10 minutes!”.
