Inside: This no-knead bread recipe is a great way to use up extra cottage cheese while making something truly delicious. It’s simple to mix together and requires no kneading. If you love resourceful cooking and homemade artisan bread, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your home, too.
Easy, No-knead Artisan Bread Recipe
Part of living simply is using up what you have, and letting nothing go to waste.
My parents grew up during the Great Depression, and it left its mark on them. We weren't poor during my childhood, but we were frugal and resourceful, traits that have followed me through my own life too.
After she passed away, I discovered a handwritten recipe for cottage cheese bread in my grandmother's recipe box. She rarely cooked or baked during the years that I knew her, and I'm the first to admit that cooking probably wasn't her "gift" - although she was an excellent seamstress. It takes all kinds in this life, doesn't it?
But the recipe sounded intriguing, and I had half a carton of cottage cheese in the back of the refrigerator that was a bit "tangy" and needed to be used up or thrown out - and you know how I feel about wasting food.
So I gave it a try, making some tweaks due to what I had on hand, and it turned out to be absolutely delicious!
What makes this bread recipe unique
Not only was it simple to make because it required no kneading, it had a mild tang from the cottage cheese and onion, and a slightly chewy texture that made excellent toast and sandwiches too.
The cottage cheese gives it a higher protein content than regular bread recipes, and produces a unique texture.
I love that it doesn't require kneading. My usual bread recipes require kneading, then rising and kneading again, with a final rise before baking.
Instead, you use a mixer to incorporate the ingredients, and then let it rise for about an hour before baking. So simple!
Bake this simple bread in a loaf pan, round cake pan or even a casserole dish. The unique shape makes it feel even more special.
This soft, hearty bread with a slightly chewy texture and a rich, savory flavor quickly became a favorite in our family, perfect for serving with soup, or toasting for breakfast.
How to make no-knead cottage bread
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup water **See NOTE below
1 Tbsp organic cane sugar
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp dried minced onion
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
NOTE: I add a bit more liquid than the half cup of water in the recipe. The first several times I made this it was too dry for my taste.
Directions:
In a medium saucepan heat and stir the cottage cheese, water, sugar, butter, onion, and salt till warm and the butter is almost melted.
Add the warm liquids to the flour/yeast mixture, then stir in the egg. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes more.
Stir in the toasted wheat germ and remaining flour - the batter will be stiff.
Spoon into a well-greased pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place till nearly double (50-60 minutes).
Bake in a 375° oven for 25-30 minutes (30-35 minutes if you are using a loaf pan) or until the bread sounds hollow when the bottom of the pan is lightly tapped. If necessary, cover with foil the last 10 minutes to prevent over-browning.
Remove from pan. Serve warm or cool.
The results
This delicious bread is dense with a heavier crumb, more like an artisan bread than a sandwich loaf. We enjoy it with soup, stew or chili.
Because this bread doesn't contain preservatives, it is best eaten within a couple of days. If it gets a little too dry for your taste, toasting it will take care of that issue in a delicious way!
Related posts:
~~~~~
Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe
