No Knead Bread: Unbelievably Easy, Incredibly Delicious!
This No Knead Bread recipe by Jim Lahey will change your life, as it has mine. I never buy bread anymore. This recipe is nothing short of phenomenal.
Originally published November 30, 2011.
Whenever I would see loaves like this one, I never dreamt I’d ever be able to make anything so fabulous myself, nevermind that it could be so incredibly simple!
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Well, I have made this no knead bread countless times now, and have never had a bad loaf yet! I’ve forgotten to add the salt a couple of times, but it was still fabulous.
Use this bread to make bruschetta, and to serve with cucina povera dishes like this peperonata.
I’ve shared the recipe with friends and family who have shared it, too; it’s just an amazing discovery. You just won’t believe how easy this bread is to make.
First of all, you’ll need a 5 quart cast iron Dutch oven pot, which you can order on Amazon, delivered to your doorstep. I only use my pot for baking bread–it’s a like mini, inexpensive gourmet oven!
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Jim Lahey’s video for his no knead bread recipe is great, but I’ve added some things he’s left out such as letting the bread rise before baking (a must.)
Try this fantastic no knead pizza dough recipe, too!
I’ve also listed the ingredients at 50% more than his, so you get a larger loaf.
Note: I have attempted to make this recipe during hot summer days and it simply does not work. I have not yet tried to have it rise in the fridge because, to be honest, if it’s that hot, I just don’t want to turn my oven on.
No Knead Bread Recipe
adapted from Mark Bittman’s original recipe makes one large loaf
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
special equipment: 5 quart cast iron dutch oven
Before you watch the video, I’ll give you my tips:
The ingredients above make a loaf 50% larger than Jim Lahey’s recipe. This is what the dough will look like after 12-18 hours: a cross between batter & dough.
Use a spatula instead of your hand–much easier, and less messy.
After the 12-18 hrs. just work the dough into a loaf shape right in the bowl. Here’s a video of how I shape the dough.
Click Here for Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread Video
Drop the dough onto the cloth–again, less mess; then sprinkle with more flour and oat/wheat bran.
Tips for Best Results
The video doesn’t show this, but let it rise for about two hours in the towel or until doubled in size, or your bread will not turn out properly; do not skip this step. Once it’s in the pot, I like to make a little snip with scissors, or a bread lame slice across the top. See complete, printable recipe below.
Preheat the oven AND THE POT for 20 minutes (longer than when it just comes to temperature). I bake my no knead bread on convection, 495 °F (260°C) for 30 mins., then lower to 465°F (240°C), REMOVE THE LID, and bake for 8-11 minutes longer, depending on your preference of crustiness.
If you don’t have a convection oven, 500°F (260°C) or as hot as your oven will go, then lower to about 475°F (245°C); adjust according to your own oven.
Carefully, remove the loaf from the pot immediately and place on a cooling rack.
MAKE SURE TO LET THE LOAF COOL AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE SLICING!
Big brothers have also been known to finish their little sister’s entire loaf before anyone else
could get a slice! Proceed at your own risk.
Click here to watch Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread Video
No Knead Bread: Unbelievably Easy, Incredibly Delicious!
Special Equipment
- 1 five quart cast iron dutch oven
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (good quality, like King Arthur)
- ½ cups whole wheat (or omit the wheat and replace it with ½ cup / 70 gram more all purpose flour)
- 18 oz water
- 2 ½ tsp Maldon salt (salt varies in saltiness, so taste your salt)
- ¼ tsp dried yeast (or 3 g fresh yeast, preferably not instant or quick-rise)
- 1 Tbsp wheat germ (optional, or crushed flaxseed)
Instructions
- (See my tips in the notes section below): Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until everything comes together. This will only take a few minutes, maximum.
- Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and let rise for 12 to 18 hours or until it's risen (about 4 times in mass and is soft and bubbly.)
- Using a spatula, mix down the dough/batter to remove all the air from it and form into a nice round in the bowl.
- Put a tea towel on the countertop and sprinkle liberally with flour and some other grain like wheat germ or oat bran to keep the dough from sticking to the cloth. Don't be shy or the loaf will stick.
- Using the spatula, dump the dough onto the floured cloth, put the edges of the cloth over the top and allow to rise for 2 hours.
Baking:
- Preheat the oven AND THE POT for 20 minutes (longer than when it just comes to temperature). I bake my no knead bread on convection, 495 °F (260°C) for 30 mins., then lower to 465°F (240°C),
- When the oven is at the 495 temperature for about 10 minutes, carefully remove the pot from the oven and put it on the counter near the dough. Lift both sides of the tea towel and dump the loaf into the hot pan. Place the lid onto the pot and put into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After half an hour, REMOVE THE LID, and bake for 8-11 minutes longer, depending on your preference of color and crustiness.)
- If you don't have a convection oven: 500°F (260°C) or as hot as your oven will go, then lower to about 475°F (245°C); adjust according to your own oven.
- Carefully, remove the pot from the oven, and the loaf from the pot immediately, and place on a cooling rack.
- Cool for at least 3 hours before slicing.
Notes
- PLEASE NOTE: THIS RECIPE REQUIRES THAT YOU PLAN AHEAD! I usually mix my dough in the evening (9 pm or later) then when it is ready in the morning or afternoon, I put it on the cloth to rise for 2 hours and bake it. If you cannot be home for 3 hours during the time that the bread is risen, plan to make it at a different time.
- The ingredients above make a loaf 50% larger than Jim Lahey's recipe. It will be a cross between batter & dough.
- Use a spatula instead of your hand--much easier, and less messy.
- After the 12-18 hrs. just work the dough into a loaf shape right in the bowl.
- Drop the dough onto the cloth--again, less mess; then sprinkle with more flour and oat/wheat bran.
- MAKE SURE TO LET THE LOAF COOL AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE SLICING!
Nutrition
Let me know how yours turns out!
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♦
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Having never made bread before, this actually looks manageable. One question, though. Could it be made in a cast iron loaf pan? Mine has a lid.
As always, thank you so much for your incredible recipes, (my friends and family are still talking about your Sticky Toffee Pudding!), and also your travel adventures.
The only problem might be that the amount of dough may be too much for the loaf tin. But yes, should work great if it has a lid. Thanks, Suzi!!!
I love no- knead bread, and your proportions for a larger loaf are wonderful!
Ok I’ve made this bread so many times and my family actually asks for this bread all the time and believe it or not I’ve got my girls 14 & 16 and hubby making it ! I love the step by step it’s fool proof . Love this 👌🏻
Ketie C ❤️
I’ll be using an enameled cast iron dutch oven, is there a need to prepare the pan and do I let it cool 3 hours in the pan? Thank you for all the delicious recipes!
Is the cast iron pot heated in the oven before adding the bread dough? Is the lid left on during baking?
Yes, heat the pot for about 20 minutes before adding the dough to it. I leave it longer than when the oven beeps that it’s up to temperature. The lid is on for the first half hour, then removed to brown it for the last few minutes. I’ll add these to the instructions, Catherine!
Thank you Christina! Will make this bread soon :)
Thank YOU! As you found out, I have so old recipes from when I REALLY didn’t know what I was doing that are in need of updating. Comments like yours help me see where I need to fix things. You’ll love the bread! Let me know what you think!
Delish! I baked the bread today in my Aunt Mamies ceramic cast ‘Descoware’ beautiful orange dutch oven. She married in 1938, I’m thinking the pot is circa 1950’s, pre La Cruset. The loaf turned out beautifully! I’m no stranger to baking breads, this recipe is a keeper. I’ve been a fan of your website for some time now, never made comments. I can see now that you appreciate them and I thank you for your timely responses. And updates!!
Awww thank you, Catherine! I do truly appreciate hearing comments about the recipes I share. So glad you were able to use your aunt’s vintage pot for the bread – that’s awesome! Enjoy the bread, too!
HOW DOES ONE GET THE DOUGH INTO THE POT? IS FURTHER SHAPING REQUIRED OR IS IT JUST DROPPED IN AND HOPEFULLY IT WON’T STICK TO THE CLOTH?
Yep, you just pick up each side of the cloth and dump it in the pot. If you put enough oat bran/flour, it won’t stick. It’s not a delicately risen dough like normal bread. :)
Hi! I make this bread all the time. I love the smell of fresh bread in the house, especially when dinner guests arrive.
I made two changes which work for me: for the second rise, i place the dough on parchment paper, which goes also into the baking pot. Second, i use semolina flour for the additional 1/2 cup. I just love that texture.
Sounds great! Thanks for the tips!