Bread is one of the most common accompaniments people serve with soup, and there are many bread varieties that you can choose. Most are considered either leavened bread or unleavened bread. So, what is leavened bread, and how is it made?
What Is Leavened Bread?
It is a type of bread that is made using leavening agents. The leavening agent is added to the dough, which causes it to rise and become light and fluffy. This process is called fermentation, and it creates tiny pockets of gas within the bread, making it soft and airy.
Leavened bread is a popular type of bread worldwide, and it comes in many different varieties, including sourdough, brioche, and ciabatta.
On the other hand, unleavened bread is bread made without using a leavening agent, such as flatbreads.
What Is Leavening?
Leavening is the process of adding a substance to bread dough or batter, which causes it to rise and become light and fluffy. This process, called fermentation, creates small pockets of gas within the bread or batter, making it soft and airy. Leavening is essential in producing many baked goods, including bread, pastries, and cakes.
What Are Leavening Agents?
There are many different leavening agents you can use. Some of these are:
- Organic leavening agents, such as yeast
- Chemical leavening agents, such as baking soda or baking powder
- Mechanical leavening agents, such as steam or air
How Do You Make Leavened Bread?
There are many ways to make leavened bread, depending on the bread or cake type. The following is a straightforward outline of a typical leavening process.
- You will need a leavening agent like yeast or baking powder to leaven bread.
- Mix the leavening agent with warm water and let it sit for a few minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Then, add the mixture to your bread dough and knead it well.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size.
- Finally, bake the bread in the oven until it is golden brown. It should also sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
[…] Leavened bread does not refer to one specific bread but a group of bread varieties that share a similarity. It covers any bread type made using a rising agent, such as yeast. The combination of the rising agent with the other ingredients adds gas to the dough in a process called leavening. […]