This is the staple food of my family. I’ve probably made hundreds of loaves of this classic bread for family and friends. So yes, the recipe has been well tested. Its sweet, nutty flavor is delicious with savory dishes. With a bit butter or lashings of jam, it is also a perfect, tasty and healthy breakfast for you and/or kids.

Makes 1 loaf,

• 125g  strong white flour 高筋面粉
• 125g  wholemeal flour 全麦面粉
• 1 tablespoon    dry yeast
• 28g  (or 2 tablespoons)   unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/2 teaspoon    salt
• 70g (or 3/4 cups)  roughly chopped walnuts
• 100g (or 3/4 cups)  raisins
• 175g  water to mix
• 10g   same strong white flour for dusting

Method

1. Add strong white and wholemeal flour together into a bowl.
2. Dilute the yeast in a little warm water, then put with the flour, salt and butter into the bowl and mix well. Slowly add water, mixing all the time, until dough becomes elastic.
3. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes.
4. Put the dough back in the bowl, cover the bowl in a plastic bag.
5. Leave to rest for 2 hours.
6. Take out the dough and incorporate into the walnuts and raisins.
7. Press in firmly. Knead for 3 minutes.
8. Flatten the dough and roll into sausage shape.
9. Place the shaped dough on a lightly floured baking tray and leave to rest for 1 hour. Cover the dough in a plastic bag.
10. Preheat the oven to 200℃.
11. Move it into the pre-heated oven.
12. Bake for 28 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Tips

1.  Toast the walnuts and leave them cool off.
2. Always cover the dough with cling wrap or in a plastics bag when dough resting.

Many dear friends tried this loaf at my home. All of them, kids and adults, love it! It is actually SUPER EASY to make.

Makes two loaves,

• 240g  strong white flour高筋面粉
• 60g   wholemeal flour 全麦面粉
• 3g    dry yeast
• 4g    salt
• 240g  water

Method

1. Combine strong white flour, wholemeal flour, yeast, salt and water in a mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with a plastic bag. Leave the dough in the bowl for 2 hours in room temperature till it doubles in size
2. Tip the dough out. Coat the top of the dough all over with flour. Split the dough in half and gently stretch out each piece of dough a little and place them on the heavily-floured baking tray to rest for a further 20 minutes
3. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 220℃
4. Bake for 20 minutes till the beautiful aroma of the bread fills up your entire room
5. NOT ready to eat yet…wait for another 20 minutes till it cools off on the cooling rack
6. Enjoy a plain piece, dip the piece in olive oil, spread butter/cheese or use it to make your favorite sandwich.
7. The same dough makes perfect pizza dough too – just reduce the water to the ratio of 70%, which means 210g water with 300g flour. The ingredients listed in this recipe are good to make two 12-inch pizza. Click here for Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe.