Baking · serves 2

Whole Wheat Bread

Atta bread that isn't a brick. The trick is not using only atta.

180 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 3 cups atta
  • 1 cup bread flour or maida
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp honey or jaggery
  • 1.5 cups warm water
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp seeds (optional)

Method

  1. Keep a quarter of the flour white. All-atta bread has weak gluten and comes out dense every time.
  2. Mix, rest 20 minutes before kneading — that soak softens the bran, which would otherwise cut the gluten strands.
  3. Knead 10 minutes. Wholemeal dough stays slightly tacky; resist adding more flour.
  4. Rise 1.5 hours until doubled. Wholemeal rises slower than white.
  5. Shape, into a tin, second rise 50 minutes.
  6. 200°C for 35 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Questions people ask about Whole Wheat Bread

How long does Whole Wheat Bread take?

About 180 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What is the one thing to get right in Whole Wheat Bread?

Mix, rest 20 minutes before kneading — that soak softens the bran, which would otherwise cut the gluten strands.

What can I use instead of atta in Whole Wheat Bread?

Use plain flour, though the dough will be softer and need less water.

Can I make Whole Wheat Bread ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Whole Wheat Bread vegetarian?

Yes, and as written it is vegan too. Check your specific brands if that matters to you.

Do I need an oven for Whole Wheat Bread?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Whole Wheat Bread?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

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