Easy No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe

When Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery in New York City shared his brilliant method of making no-knead artisan bread at home, he probably didn't realize how quickly people would embrace his recipe. It was with such passion and enthusiasm that even non-bakers were converted into believers that they too could produce a loaf that rivaled upscale store bakeries. Even a small child could make this bread known for its hard crunchy golden crust and soft warm texture on the inside. Using only all-purpose flour, yeast, salt, and water, baking artisan bread only required a few minutes of time to mix the dough, enough patience to wait overnight for the yeast to do its thing, and an oven-proof pot with a lid. This no-knead bread became a movement that swept across the country.

Honestly, what is better than freshly baked bread still crackling right from the oven?  I know. Warm freshly baked bread with a smidge of butter and homemade jam spread across a newly cut slice. In our home alone we used to bake bread nearly every day for months because the end product required so little effort. I discovered I should always double a batch because I could fit two pots in my oven and bake two loaves simultaneously in the same amount of time it took for one.  

Furthermore, I discovered a quicker and easier way of baking the bread.  Lahey's original method involved heating a pot in a hot oven first before quickly adding the unbaked ball of dough to it. Instead of this method, I learned you could get the same results by just setting the dough in a cold pot and placing it in a cold oven first, and allowing it to heat together. My mom, who lives with us, wanted to learn how to make this bread. I taught her in 5 minutes. She was amazed that she, who never bakes, could bake such a beautiful loaf. Needless to say, she became obsessed. So obsessed that she would bake in the early hours of the morning to have a fresh loaf of bread to take to church for her 6 am prayer service.  She baked 3-4 loaves daily giving them out to families within her congregation. Once you learn how to bake bread it becomes hard to ever buy it again.

Today I have for you my method for baking no-knead bread slightly adapted from Lahey's original method. I encourage you to watch the video to see for yourself just how simple it is.  Once you try it for yourself, you too will become a no-knead convert. Just remember, if you decide to bake as much bread as my mom, expect your energy bill to reflect your new zeal for baking. Enjoy!