Country-style oregano loaf
A round yeast loaf made with white flour, a little rye and fresh oregano. Butter softens the crumb, while a square score opens across the top.
Method
01 · Mix the measured dough ingredients
5–7 minUse: Strong white bread flour; Water; Fine salt; Instant dried yeast; Wholemeal rye flour; Fresh oregano leaves
Mix the dough flours, oregano, water, salt and yeast until no dry flour remains. Knead for 3–4 minutes to bring it together.Ready when: The dough is cohesive and begins to stretch.

01 MixMix the flours and oregano into the dough. 02 · Knead in the softened butter
8–10 minUse: Unsalted butter
Work in the softened butter a little at a time. Continue kneading for 8–10 minutes by hand or with a dough hook at the machine’s recommended speed.Ready when: The butter is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and elastic.

02 Knead ButterKnead in the softened butter. 03 · Let the dough rise
60–120 minUse:
Cover the bowl and leave at 22–24°C for 60–120 minutes.Ready when: The dough is airy and roughly doubled in volume.

03 Bulk RiseLet the dough rise until roughly doubled. 04 · Shape one round on a lined tray
6–10 minUse: Flour for shaping and dusting
Line a 30×40 cm tray with baking paper. Use the shaping flour sparingly. Bring the dough edges underneath to make one round about 18 cm across. Put seam-side down on the tray and dust the top lightly.Ready when: The round has an even shape with no loose seam underneath.

04 ShapeShape one low round loaf. 05 · Proof and heat the oven
45–75 minUse:
Cover loosely and leave at 22–24°C for 45–75 minutes. Heat the oven to 220°C conventional during the final 20 minutes.Ready when: The dough is puffy and a light fingertip dent recovers slowly.

05 ProofProof until puffy. 06 · Score and bake the round
40–45 minUse:
Make four cuts about 5 mm deep to outline a square on top. Bake for 15 minutes at 220°C, then reduce to 200°C and continue for 25–30 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if the crust colours before the middle is cooked. Check the centre with a probe.Ready when: The base is firm and browned, and the bread centre reaches about 95°C.

06 BakeScore a square and bake until browned. 07 · Cool fully before slicing
120 minUse:
Move the loaf to a rack and cool for at least 120 minutes before slicing or wrapping.Ready when: The centre is cool and slices hold together.

07 CoolCool fully on a rack before slicing.
What to look for
| Stage | Look / feel for | Needs attention |
|---|---|---|
| Mix the measured dough ingredients | The dough is cohesive and begins to stretch. | |
| Knead in the softened butter | The butter is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and elastic. | |
| Let the dough rise | The dough is airy and roughly doubled in volume. | |
| Shape one round on a lined tray | The round has an even shape with no loose seam underneath. | |
| Proof and heat the oven | The dough is puffy and a light fingertip dent recovers slowly. | |
| Score and bake the round | The base is firm and browned, and the bread centre reaches about 95°C. | |
| Cool fully before slicing | The centre is cool and slices hold together. |
Troubleshooting
| If you see this | Likely cause | What to do now | Next time |
|---|---|---|---|
| The loaf spreads without rising well. | The dough was weakly developed or proofed beyond its strength. | Bake once ready and judge the centre as well as the crust. | Knead to the stated elasticity and use the proofing cue instead of waiting for a fixed timer. |
| The centre tears or feels gummy when sliced. | The loaf was underbaked or cut while hot. | Allow the remaining loaf to cool completely. | Check the centre temperature and firm base, then keep the full cooling interval. |
Storage: Wrap when fully cool and keep in a cool dry place for up to 3 days. Freeze slices for up to 2 months.; Contains: wheat, milk, rye.; This Nepedia version has not been kitchen-tested.
Other approaches to this recipe
| Cook / recipe | Use | What differs |
|---|
The working ingredients and method form one recipe. Different formulas are compared without averaging their quantities or rise schedules.
