Homemade Slavonian Bread from the Brick Oven (or Regular Oven)

This homemade bread is a true Slavonian classic. It’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect to serve with traditional meals. Even if you don’t have a brick oven, you can bake it in a regular oven and get great results.

Ingredients:

– 1 kg (8 cups) all-purpose flour– 20 g (2 teaspoons) fresh yeast or 7 g (1 packet) dry yeast– 1 tablespoon salt– 700 ml (3 cups) warm water– 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: In a bowl, mix the warm water (not too hot!) with yeast and sugar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, put the flour and salt. Slowly add the water with yeast and start mixing with your hands or a spoon until you get a sticky dough.
3. Knead the dough: Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface and knead the dough for about 10 minutes. The dough should be soft and smooth.
4. Let it rise: Put the dough back in the bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel, and leave it in a warm place for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
5. Shape and bake: Preheat the oven to 220 °C (430 °F). Shape the dough into a round or oval loaf and place it on a baking tray. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
6. Cool and serve: Let the bread cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with any meal!