Speedy No-Knead Bread

This recipe from NYT cooking’s Mark Bittman is an attempt to cut the start-to-finish time of Jim Lahey’s original recipe down to just a few hours rather than the original 14 to 20 hours of rising time.  This is a great alternative if you want some fresh bread and didn’t get the sourdough process started yesterday.  The Delaney test kitchen tasters gave this one two thumbs up.  It was gone so fast I’m glad I got a few pictures in first!
 
In terms of timing - I started at noon, then started baking a little before 5pm. It was perfectly baked, cooled and still slightly warm in time for dinner.
 
If you make this one, please let me know if it’s a hit in your house too!
 
Speedy No-Knead Bread
 
INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups bread flour

• 1 packet (1/4 ounce) instant yeast

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

• Oil as needed

 
PREPARATION:
1.              Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest about 4 hours at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2.              Lightly oil a work surface and place dough on it; fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes more.

3.              At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6-to-8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under dough and put it into pot, seam side up. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.
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4.              Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

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