About a year ago we started using kefir as a part of our daily nutrition. Kefir has multiple benefits for your body and can be used as a plain drink, a smoothie, and can also be mixed into pancakes, breads and other baked goods since it contains some beneficial yeasts. Fresh (24 hour kefir) is very mild and yogurt-like tasting. After 48 hours it becomes somewhat sour and after 72 hours quite sour. It is still good to use, it just depends on what you prefer. Today I was experimenting a little with the 72-hour kefir just to see what kind of flavor my bread will have. In the back of my mind I had this idea that it may taste like sourdough bread…
WHEAT-RYE BREAD WITH KEFIR Printable recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups (500 g) bread flour (wheat)
- 1 cup (100 g) rye flour
- 1 tsp yeast
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (175 ml) kefir (room temperature)
- 1 ¼ (300 ml) warm water
- Flour for kneading
- ½ cup (125 ml) water for baking
Preparation:
- In a bowl of a stand mixer combine wheat and rye flour, add yeast and keep mixing for a minute or two.
- Now add kefir, warm water and salt and keep mixing for about 5 minutes. Let it rest for 10 minutes and again mix for another 5.
- Put the dough on a flour dusted surface and knead for a few minutes. Form into a ball, place it back into bowl, cover it and let it rise for about 1 – 1 ½ hour.
- When the dough looks double its size, place it back on the working surface, knead it thoroughly and form it into a desired shape. Dust it with flour, cover it and let it rise for about 30 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, heat the oven to450 F. Placea baking dish (oven safe) into the oven for 10 minutes to heat it.
- With a sharp knife cut a lengthwise ½ inch slit in the bread. Pick it up from the working surface and place it in the hot baking dish. Place a ½ cup of water on the bottom of the oven. This will provide necessary moisture and the bread will get a nice thick, crunchy crust.
- Lower the oven temperature to 430 F and bake for about 40 minutes.
- Cool down completely and enjoy!
*** This bread made with sour kefir tastes so much like a real sourdough bread!
