In its simplest form, bread is usually vegan. It has four essential ingredients: flour, salt, water, and yeast. However, many bread types include eggs, dairy, or sweeteners to change their flavor or texture. Here’s an informative article from Healthline to help you distinguish vegan from non-vegan bread.
These added ingredients make it difficult for vegans to buy store-bought bread since they contain lecithin, monoglycerides, and diglycerides, sometimes sourced from animal products.
Here’s how to make vegan bread to avoid confusion and endless searches. You’ll be happy to see that it’s effortless. Find out more about vegan bread baking below, where we provide easy recipes, a step-by-step guide for the process, and tips to make delicious vegan bread.
Easy Vegan Bread Recipe
It’s so easy to bake bread. Here’s a delicious bread that’s easy to make. It includes olive oil for a fluffy inside and crusty outside. It’s quick to prep and cook, but the dough must rise for at least three hours.
Easy Vegan Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp dry yeast
- 1 ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Place the flour, yeast, and sea salt in a bowl and mix with a spoon.
- Add the olive oil and water.
- Bring the dough together by stirring with a spoon.
- Now, knead the dough on your counter until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough into the mixing bowl, covering it with a kitchen towel. Let it rise in the bowl. It should double in size, meaning it will need between 2 and 3 hours.
- Approaching the end of the rising time, start preheating your oven to 450F.
- Grease or dust a baking tray with flour.
- At this point, don’t knead the dough.
- Shape the dough into a ball by folding the edges into the center.
- Place the dough into your prepared baking tray and allow 30 more minutes of rising time.
- Use a serrated knife to make a few light cuts on the dough’s surface.
- Bake the loaf for 30 minutes and leave it to cool completely before slicing.
Vegan Bread Ingredients
Flour – Flour remains the main ingredient for making bread. All-purpose flour keeps the dough softly textured in this easy bread recipe while providing structure and flavor.
Dry Yeast – Active dry yeast contains the microscopic fungus required to raise the dough. Since it’s dehydrated, it extends its shelf life, meaning you can always have some on hand for bread baking without worrying that it’s past its use date.
Sea Salt – Salt is an antioxidant, adds taste, and enhances the flavor of the bread. Therefore, it adds flavor and enables the dough to hold carbon dioxide effectively by tightening the gluten strands, making it denser.
Warm Water – Using warm water assists in activating the dormant active ingredients in the yeast. Make sure the water is warm to the touch and not hot.
Olive Oil – Use olive oil for its nutty flavor and to add moisture and softness to your bread. It will stay fresh for longer.
Step-by-Step Vegan Bread Process
Part of knowing how to make vegan bread is understanding the importance of the step-by-step process. These steps ensure your bread works out perfectly every time:
- Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and dry yeast) in a large bowl.
- Add the water and the olive oil (you can use any other oil ).
- Then, combine the ingredients with a spoon into the wet dough.
- Next, knead the dough on your lightly floured counter until smooth.
- Put the dough in the mixing bowl again, covering it with a clean kitchen cloth to rest and rise.
- Set aside 2-3 hours, allowing it to double in size. The rising time makes the bread flavorful and airy.
- Once the dough has risen, don’t knead it again. Only shape it by folding the edges towards the center, creating a ball.
- Place it on a prepared baking tray to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Make light cuts into the bread dough with a serrated knife.
- Bake in a preheated 450F oven. It should take about 30 minutes. You’ll know when the bread is ready when the crust turns golden brown.
- After baking, always allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
- Serve as you prefer, and enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Vegan Bread
Now that you know how to make vegan bread, here are some tips to present the perfect loaf every time:
- In this homemade bread, you will need active dry yeast. You cannot use baking powder, baking soda, or other ingredients because you won’t get the same result. You can follow recipes online for a quick bread that doesn’t require yeast. Try this Easy Vegan Soda Bread from Family Friends Food.
- If you don’t use a raising agent like yeast, your result will be a flatbread.
- You can omit the olive oil, adding moisture and flavor.
- Feel free to add other ingredients when making bread. These could include spices, herbs, olives, nuts, seeds, dried tomatoes, raisins, etc.
- You can also bake the bread with a Dutch oven, loaf pan, or bread maker.
- The recipe uses all-purpose flour, but you can customize your loaf by mixing different varieties or making it with whole wheat or gluten-free flour only.
Vegan Bread Variations
The most common vegan breads include sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia, baguette, and pita. However, when buying these ready, you must ensure they don’t contain animal products like milk, butter, honey, emulsifiers, or enhancers.
The recipe for easy vegan bread allows you to make the bread in several variations by adding other ingredients. For example:
Oats– Take out ¼ cup of flour and replace it with ¼ cup of whole-grain oats to make the bread whole grain.
Whole Wheat Flour – Substitute half or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
Nuts & Seeds – Add in your favorite nuts or seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, etc., for a hearty texture.
Gluten-Free – use the same quantity as your regular flour for a gluten-free version of this bread.
Herbs– Add finely sliced fresh herbs such as rosemary, origanum, or thyme.
Olives and Dried Tomatoes – Add a heaped cup of olives or dried tomatoes with a few herbs or garlic powder for a flavor-packed bread.
Spices– Add cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg to boost the flavor of homemade bread.
Sweetener– You can use vegan-friendly sweeteners like maple syrup or coconut sugar for a sweeter bread.
Health Benefits of Vegan Bread
One of the most significant health benefits of vegan bread is that it contains no animal products. Therefore, without eggs and dairy, vegan bread contains no saturated fats.
Most vegan breads also don’t contain a sweetener. Even though breads usually contain a small amount of sugar or honey, you can omit adding any to vegan bread. If you like it a bit sweeter, it doesn’t matter because it only requires less than a tablespoon of maple syrup or coconut sugar for 16 servings.
Vegans usually prefer bread with whole grains, sprouted grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes that add exceptional nutritional value. Vegan bread also never contains chemicals, preservatives, or other artificial ingredients to enhance its texture and flavor.
Therefore, you can expect all the proteins, fiber, vitamins, and minerals possible from eating a slice. That’s why you must learn how to make vegan bread.
Vegan Bread FAQs
Knowing how to make vegan bread makes it easier to understand what you eat.
However, here are some FAQs that you will find helpful:
Does all vegan bread need the same rising time?
Rising time can vary according to the type of yeast used, its freshness, and the time of the year. Therefore, if your yeast is older, it will take longer to work. Fast-working dry yeast is quicker. When the weather is warmer, your dough will double in size faster than during colder weather. Therefore, rising time can vary from one to four hours.
How long will bread keep?
Some store-bought loaves will keep for weeks because of the preservatives used. Your homemade vegan brad will be perfect on the first day. It will keep for up to three days but won’t have the same texture on day two. On day three, it’s suitable for making toast and using it in dishes requiring breadcrumbs or croutons.
Can you freeze vegan bread?
Yes, you can freeze vegan bread. If you don’t use your bread within three days, you should slice it and freeze it in freezer bags. Before eating, you can toast it straight from the freezer or let it thaw for about an hour.
Share Your Vegan Bread Results
Knowing how to make vegan bread is essential, especially if you don’t have a reliable bakery where you are guaranteed to find your vegan loaf. The easy vegan bread recipe proves you can make a healthy and crispy loaf of bread to enjoy with meals with just a few ingredients and minimal effort at home.
We would love to hear from you, so share your vegan bread results and let us know if you have any other ideas for vegan bread.
Unleash Your Inner Baker: Mastering the Art of Vegan Bread
Embarking on a vegan lifestyle doesn’t mean you must give up the comforting aroma and delightful taste of freshly baked bread. With a few simple adjustments and a touch of creativity, you can master the art of vegan baking in your kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a newcomer to the world of dough and ovens, this guide is designed to help you navigate the nuances of vegan bread-making with ease and confidence.
A. Crafting Your Vegan Masterpiece
Making vegan bread is akin to creating a work of art; it requires patience, precision, and a willingness to experiment. The process is rewarding as you watch simple, plant-based ingredients transform into a golden, crusty loaf that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Embrace the challenge and let your culinary creativity shine as you explore the endless possibilities of vegan bread baking.
Vegan Bread Baking Essentials
Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary tools and ingredients. A well-equipped kitchen is the foundation of successful vegan breadmaking. Each item is crucial, from mixing bowls to baking trays, from measuring spoons to kitchen scales. Stock your pantry with high-quality vegan ingredients, and you’ll be ready to tackle any bread recipe that comes your way.
The Joy of Sharing
There’s something deeply satisfying about sharing the fruits of your labor with others. Vegan bread, with its wholesome ingredients and homemade charm, makes for a thoughtful gift or an excellent addition to any communal meal. Invite friends and family to partake in your baking success, and watch as your vegan bread becomes a beloved staple in your social gatherings.
Join the Vegan Baking Community
You’re not alone on your vegan baking journey. A vibrant community of like-minded bakers is out there, eager to exchange tips, share successes, and offer support. Connect with local baking groups, participate in online forums, or attend vegan baking workshops to expand your knowledge and network. Together, you can celebrate the joys of vegan baking and inspire one another to reach new heights.
The Bread of Life
Vegan bread is more than just a dietary choice; it’s a lifestyle statement that reflects your commitment to health, the environment, and the well-being of all living creatures. As you become more adept at baking vegan bread, you’ll discover that each loaf is a testament to your dedication and passion. So don your apron, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake bread that’s not only delicious but also deeply meaningful.
