How do I bake a crusty loaf of latvian dark rye bread?

Get a taste of Latvia with our recipe for a crusty loaf of dark rye bread. Fill your kitchen with the warm aroma of freshly baked bread.

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I bake a crusty loaf of Latvian dark rye bread. Items include: Dark rye flour Bread flour Instant yeast Salt Caraway seeds Lukewarm water

Dark rye flour 500g
Bread flour 300g
Instant yeast 2 teaspoons
Salt 2 teaspoons
Caraway seeds 1 teaspoon
Lukewarm water 400ml

Take note
Be careful when handling hot baking equipment and sharp knives.

1

Prepare the dough

In a large bowl, combine 500g of dark rye flour, 300g of bread flour, 2 teaspoons of instant yeast, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds. Give it a good mix.

2

Add the wet ingredients

Slowly pour in 400ml of lukewarm water as you mix the dough. Knead it with your hands until it comes together and forms a sticky, but manageable, dough.

3

Let it rise

Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for about 2 hours, or until it doubles in size. You can leave it in a warm spot in your kitchen.

4

Shape the loaf

Sprinkle some flour on your work surface and transfer the dough onto it. Shape it into a round loaf by folding the edges towards the center. Place the shaped loaf on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

5

Second rise

Cover the loaf with the kitchen towel again and let it rise for another 30 minutes. This will give your bread a nice texture.

6

Preheat the oven

While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).

7

Bake the bread

Once the oven is hot, place the baking tray with the loaf in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and crusty.

8

Cool and enjoy

Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. Resist the temptation to slice it right away! Once cooled, slice it up and enjoy with butter, cheese, or your favorite spread.