I’ve clamped down on my gluten intake since discovering that it gives me the headaches (and occasional migraines for years). If you only know how much I love bread…the husband and Pristine is ok with it so I have continued to search for bread recipes, easy ones preferably and so happy to have found this!

This recipe from Cookpad.com (it’s in Japanese so if you can read Japanese, check it out. It has a massive collection of fool proof recipes!) for Pain de Campagne or French Country Bread is a winner – both in ease and taste.

In short, you simply have to try it!

Ingredients:

• bread flour 350 grams
• all purpose flour 50 grams
• sugar 3 Tbsp
• dry yeast 2 tsp
• salt 1/3 tsp
• butter (room temperature) 1 Tbsp

In a separate bowl:

• Milk 80 ml
• water 200 ml

Microwave for 1 minute.

Procedure:

1. Except milk and water mixture, put all ingredients in a big bowl.

2. Pour warm milk+water mixture over #1.

3. Mix with your hand.

4. When the dough has come together, remove from bowl and knead in floured surface by ‘smash and knead’ (according to my 7 year old). Basically you pick up the dough, drop it (smash on the board) and knead.

Repeat this for 200-300 times. 🙂

5. Oil bowl and place the dough. Cover with damp cloth and let it rise for 45 minutes (or until double in size).

6. After 45 minutes when the dough has doubled in size, punch the center to release air.

7. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for another 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and oil a baking tray.

8. Shape the dough to round and put in baking tray. Dust the dough surface with flour.

9. Place in oven.

** After a minute or two, remove temporarily to cut a cross on the surface using a sharp knife. The result will be way better than cutting across the dough before putting it in the oven.**

10. After 45 minutes, remove from oven and serve.

Note: When the top is turning too brown, cover with an aluminum foil and continue baking.

This bread is crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. It’ll surely please your family and friends, and yourself for a job well done!