Description
Hearty homemade bread bowls promise comfort with their crusty exterior and pillowy interiors. Rustic and simple, these edible vessels welcome creamy soups and savory stews, inviting you to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (960 ml) bread flour (plus more as needed)
- 1½ cups (360 ml) water (warm)
- ¾ tbsp rapid rise yeast
- 2 tbsps sugar
- 2 tbsps oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Blend warm water, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, active dry yeast, and all-purpose flour in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform initial mixture.
- Flour Integration: Gradually add remaining flour until the dough cleanly separates from the bowl’s sides while maintaining a slightly sticky consistency.
- Kneading Phase: Vigorously work the dough for 6-8 minutes, developing an elastic texture that readily springs back when pressed.
- First Proofing: Rest the dough in a greased bowl, covered, within a warm, sheltered environment until volume doubles, approximately 60-75 minutes.
- Shaping Process: Gently deflate the risen dough, divide into six equal portions, and shape each into a symmetrical, smooth-surfaced round by tucking and rotating edges.
- Secondary Proofing: Arrange dough balls on a lined baking sheet, spaced apart, and score an x-pattern across each top to control expansion during baking.
- Final Proofing and Baking: Allow a second rise for 30-45 minutes, then bake at 400°F (204°C) for 14-16 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform golden-brown coloration.
- Cooling and Serving: Transfer bread bowls to a wire rack for complete cooling, then carefully slice a circular lid and hollow out the interior, creating an edible vessel for soups or stews.
Notes
- Yeast Temperature Matters: Ensure water is precisely 110°F to activate yeast without killing it, critical for proper dough rising and texture.
- Kneading Technique Crucial: Develop gluten by kneading exactly 6-8 minutes, creating elastic dough that provides structural integrity for bread bowls.
- Rising Environment Key: Select a consistently warm, draft-free spot for optimal dough expansion, promoting even rise and better bread structure.
- Scoring Technique Essential: Make shallow x-cuts to control bread’s expansion, preventing uneven rising and ensuring beautiful, symmetrical bread bowls.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg