Whole Wheat and Steel-Cut Oats Bread - A Long-Fermentation Bread

A long fermentation period gives this whole wheat and steel-cut oats, no-knead bread a wholesome and satisfying flavor and chewy texture.

• Preparation Time: 50 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 188 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 5 cups bread flour
• 5 cups water
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon water, or as needed
• 2 cups steel-cut oats
• 3 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
• 6 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 3 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar (such as Bragg®)
• 0.75 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 tablespoons flax seeds, crushed
• 0.75 teaspoon active dry yeast

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the steel cut oats; cook and stir until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 2

Combine bread flour, whole wheat flour, toasted steel cut oats, dry milk, sugar, gluten, salt, flax seeds, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Add 5 cups water, oil, and vinegar. Mix on low until all ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to medium-high; mix until gluten is developed and dough is elastic, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Turn dough into a clean, oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4

Stretch and fold dough 4 to 6 times. Place back in bowl, cover, and refrigerate 16 to 18 hours.

Step 5

Remove from the refrigerator 2 to 4 hours before baking. Turn out onto a well-floured surface; sprinkle top of dough with flour. Halve the dough; flatten each half. Fold in all 4 sides like an envelope; press edges together into the dough. Shape each piece into a loaf with the smooth side on top. Place in 2 loaf pans; cover with a non-terry towel. Let rise until dough just crests above the top of the pan, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 6

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Place a pan of water on the lower rack to produce steam for the bread.

Step 7

Whisk egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Coat tops of loaves with the egg wash.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 15 minutes. Remove the pan of water carefully; cover loaves with aluminum foil tents. Continue baking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a loaf reads 200 to 205 degrees F (93 to 96 degrees C), 45 to 60 minutes more.

Step 9

Remove loaves from pans and cool on a wire rack.