How to Bake French Bread With Indian Maida Flour

Whole wheat french bread is crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside. This homemade bread is very quick and easy to make. There's nothing like freshly baked homemade bread. Some fresh and warm slices of bread with softened butter is a heavenly combination to have. It is very satisfying, tasty, and gets ready in no time!

This wheat french bread is very versatile. It is perfect to have with some hot soup, make delicious sandwiches, and to make garlic bread as well.

Bread making is one of my favorite things to do. The process is so relaxing and satisfying at the same time. You may feel challenged to make your own bread. Believe me it's not very difficult.

Ingredients

Wheat flour
All purpose flour
Active dry yeast/Instant yeast
Sugar
Salt
Olive oil
Milk

Why Add All Purpose Flour?

Most wheat bread recipes contain all purpose flour. Using a little all purpose flour gives some texture and fluffiness to the bread.

Whole Wheat French Bread Step By Step Recipe

Activating The Yeast

In a large bowl, add warm water(about 105℉), sugar, and active dry yeast. Mix and cover it. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and allow the yeast to bloom.

Making And Kneading The Dough

Mix together wheat flour, white flour, and salt in another large bowl. Add the flour mixture little at a time into the yeast mixture. Begin to mix the dough with your hands or use a hand mixer/stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.

Add some oil to the dough and combine everything together. If you find the dough is sticky, add some more flour and keep kneading it until the dough forms together into a smooth ball for about 4-5 minutes.

Kneading The Dough With Hands

Turn the dough out onto your clean kitchen countertop and start kneading it. Personally, I use a dough mat. Knead the dough by pushing with the base of your palm and bringing the dough back to you to reform into a ball. Keep kneading the dough for about 8-10 minutes or until it feels soft and pillowy. It should have a stretchy and smooth exterior. You can add a few drops of oil or some flour if required.

Proofing The Dough

Grease some oil into a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl. Spread some oil on the top of the dough. Cover it with a kitchen towel. Allow the dough to proof in a warm place for about 15-20 minutes. In colder temperatures, you can keep the bowl covered in an oven by keeping the light on, which will help the dough rise faster.

Shaping The Bread

Transfer the dough to your clean countertop. Divide the dough into two equal parts using a sharp knife or dough cutter.

Roll out half of the dough into a rectangle. Starting from the long side, tightly roll the dough to a cylindrical shape and pinch the edge to seal. Repeat the same process with the other half.

Line two baking pans with a parchment paper. Place a loaf (seam side down) on a baking pan. I use separate baking pans for each loaf. You can use a french bread pan as well.

Proofing The Bread

Cover each baking pan with a kitchen towel and allow the loaves to proof for about 45 minutes or until they double in size. Make a few diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf with a sharp knife.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400℉/200℃

Brush some milk on the top of the loaves and bake them for 17-20 minutes, or until they turn golden on the top and sound hollow when lightly tapped. Take them out of the oven and let them sit for 2 minutes on the countertop. Milk wash provides a semi-gloss shine and helps to brown the crust.

Transfer the loaves on a cooling rack and brush some melted butter if you like. Cover them with a kitchen towel, and let them cool completely before slicing.

How To Store Whole Wheat French Bread?

Homemade bread doesn't have preservatives so it cannot be stored at room temperature for more than 2-3 days.

Store the loaves in a plastic wrap once cooled down completely for 3 days at room temperature.

You can store the bread for 8 days in a refrigerator.

They can be stored in a freezer for 2 months. Take them out on the countertop for 30 minutes and warm them a little in the oven just before serving them.

How To Serve Whole Wheat French Bread?

Enjoy the bread with your favorite sandwich fillings.

This french bread tastes very good with any piping hot homemade soup.

You can make a herb bread or garlic bread with these whole wheat french bread.

Simply enjoy them warm with some jam and softened butter.

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Whole wheat french bread

Whole Wheat French Bread

Whole wheat french bread is crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside. This bread is very quick and easy to make.

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Proofing Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine French

Servings 2 loaves

Calories 1300 kcal

4 cup Wheat flour
1 cup All purpose flour 1/4-1/2 cup extra if required
1 tbsp Active dry yeast/Instant yeast
2.5 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Olive oil
2 1/4 cup Water warm
2 tbsp Milk