Portuguese Crusty Homemade Bread Recipe
Portuguese homemade bread, also known as "pão caseiro," is a traditional type of bread that is popular in Portugal. It is made from simple ingredients, including flour, water, yeast, and salt, and is typically baked in a wood-fired oven.
The bread has a crusty exterior and a soft, chewy interior with a slightly sour flavor. It is usually shaped into round loaves or long baguettes and is commonly served as an accompaniment to meals, as well as used for sandwiches or toast.
One popular variety of Portuguese homemade bread is "pão alentejano," which is made with a mixture of wheat and rye flour and has a dense texture and a slightly sweet taste.
Making Portuguese homemade bread can be a time-consuming process, as the dough needs to be allowed to rise for several hours to develop its characteristic texture and flavor. However, the result is a delicious and satisfying bread that is well worth the effort.
Ingredients
Directions
- Mix all the dry ingredients, make a pit in the middle and put the water and the olive oil in it.
- Knead well until all ingredients are well blended and the dough is very sticky.
- Let it rise for 1 hour, after leavening, make the desired shape and let rise for another hour.
- Place the dough on a tray/pan put it above the middle rack in a preheated oven at 200°C or 400°F for about 50 minutes.
NOTE: Place an empty tray at the bottom of the oven when you preheat it. As soon as you place the bread in the oven, add some ice water to the empty tray, 10 minutes before the bread is done, remove the tray with the water. The result is a very crispy bread.
