What if I told you that you can make a delicious, crusty loaf of homemade bread for just 47 cents? Welcome to Poor Man’s Bread — a simple, 4-ingredient bread recipe made with just flour, water, salt, and yeast. No fancy ingredients. No bread machine. Just real, affordable food.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/8 cups water (270 ml)
- 1 teaspoon yeast (4 grams)
- 3 to 3 ½ cups flour (360 to 420 grams)
- 1½ teaspoons salt (9 grams)
DIRECTIONS
- Measure all ingredients in order listed into the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Mix until combined for 1-2 minutes, and add just enough flour for the dough to pull away from the edges and not stick to the bottom.
- Then knead for 8 minutes (on speed 2 in KitchenAid’s, Zacmes, and Bosch mixers).
- When kneading is complete, oil bowl, turn dough in the oil, and cover bowl with a warm, wet tea towel or wrap.
- Let rise until expanded and puffy, usually 45 minutes to 1 1⁄2 hours, mainly depending on temperature. (Before it's ready be sure to pre-heat your oven to 375.)
- Once your dough has risen, punch it down, turn it out of the bowl, and press out air bubbles.
- Shape into a loaf and place into a well-oiled loaf pan (I use an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan).
- Let rise on the counter until the dough peaks over the edge of the loaf pan, then bake for 30-35 minutes (until it is the color you’d like) in a pre-heated 375-degree oven.
- Turn out of loaf pan immediately, brush with butter if desired, and cool on a wire rack or wrapped in a tea towel like I prefer.
- Enjoy your cheap homemade loaf of bread!
