In a previous post, we have shown you how to make Kefir soda bread.

Joe has since refined the process to make it even easier and quicker and shares his method with us.

Whether you make your own Kefir milk or buy it from the store you can use wholemeal flour (or Strong Plain flour) and a little Bi-carb Soda and salt to make a crusty fresh loaf for your table. Its so easy that you can make one every day.

Joe has used Lighthouse Wholemeal flour but you can also use Plain flour. The most important thing is to source a flour with a high protein content (strong bread flour) . Lighthouse flour has 12.7 g protein/100 g.

Bread flour is a high-protein flour ( typically containing between 12 and 14% protein) and is designed for baking breads. The high protein content means that bread flour has more gluten in it, which makes the dough more elastic and light and results in a chewy and airy texture when baked.

When making this bread there is no yeast, no kneading or proving involved. Just stir the ingredients, roll the bread dough into shape and bake. Joe says his hands never touch the dough!

Voila your beautiful healthy 425 gr bread loaf is ready in under 1 hour.

It is best on the day, but after 2 or 3 days is nice toasted with cheese, marmalade or jam or even Vegemite.

Joe’s Quick and Easy Kefir Bread

Ingredients:

• 250 gr of Lighthouse Strong Wholemeal flour or other (choose a high protein flour)
• 250 ml of Kefir Milk, 
• 3/4 tsp salt, 
• 3/4 tsp Bi-carb Soda,

Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, 3/4 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp Bi-carb Soda well, (keep 1 Tblsp of flour aside to sprinkle later on to release dough from the bowl if needed )

2. Shake the Kefir milk well in its jar before proceeding

3. Then pour the Kefir milk into the bowl with flour and stir and fold together well with a sturdy wooden spoon, for about 5 min till the mixture doesn’t stick to the bowl. (Depending on the environmental conditions, you may have to add a little more flour.)

4. Scrape down the side of the pan with a silicone or non stick spatula.

5. Sprinkle the remaining flour around the sides and bring it together with that same non stick spatula, folding it onto itself from the outside into the middle

.6. Then roll the bread dough around in the bowl to make it into a ball. ( Sprinkle the bowl lightly with a little flour if it becomes sticky. )

7. Then roll the bread dough from side to side to elongate the loaf

8. Finally drop the loaf shaped bread dough into baking pan,

9. With a sharp knife, cut a slash down the centre of the bread

10 . Bake in a preheated oven at 200 C Fan Forced for 21 minutes (this allows for heat loss as the oven door is opened )

11. Then lower the heat to 180 C for another 20 min

12. When the baking time is completed, the bread should have a well browned crunchy crust

13. Remove the loaf to a cooling rack to rest and allow the loaf to cool before cutting

14. Cut the loaf and serve it fresh with your favourite jam, peanut butter, cheese or your favourite spread (Joe’s is Vegemite on toasted bread!!)