Yeast Breads: Toasted Sesame Bread

The toasted sesame in this bread highlights its unique and hearty flavor. Try it with butter, jam, or as a sandwich bread. It is delicious when toasted and is great with eggs.


Ingredients


¼ cup sesame seeds
1¼ tsp bread machine or quick rise yeast
½ cup cornmeal
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup warm water
½ cup milk
¼ cup wheat bran
1 tsp salt
⅛ cup oil
⅛ cup molasses
⅛ cup honey
¼ cup plain yogurt


Preparation


Before you begin, you must toast the sesame seeds. Heat oven to 350°F. Spread sesame seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, until seeds are slightly browned. Allow to cool slightly, then pour into a large bowl.


Add all other ingredients to the bowl with the sesame seeds. Mix until a loose dough forms. Turn this dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is soft and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover loosely, and set aside to rise. It will take about 1 hour for the dough to double in size.


Punch down dough, removing all air bubbles. Shape dough into an oval loaf and place on prepared baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel and set aside to rise once more. This time it will take about 45 minutes for the dough to double in size.


Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover dough and use a bread lame or sharp knife to score the top of the loaf with 4 or 5 diagonal gashes. This is not strictly necessary, but it is nice to see a loaf that has been scored. You can skip this step if you like.


Bake loaf for 30 to 35 minutes, until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from baking sheet immediately and cool on a wire rack.


This loaf will keep for up to a week if stored in an airtight container. If it lasts that long.