Scrumptious Homemade Bread

By Noor H. Salem, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

When you walk into the average supermarket today, you’re most likely going to run into 40 or 50 options of bread. Every bag is screaming its own marketing tactic, to assure you it’s the best for your health. Unfortunately, the majority of store-bought bread is nowhere near natural anymore. They are full of bleached flours, high fructose corn syrup, dough conditioners, preservatives, and genetically modified oils to keep them soft, fluffy, and shelf stable. Bread does not require three dozen ingredients, nor does it require preservatives to make it tasteful. Instead, try this easy and scrumptious homemade bread recipe, which I accredit to my dear mother. Once you recognize what you put in bread at home, you’ll cease from purchasing store bought bread.

You want to ensure you’re only purchasing unbleached flour, to avoid the negative health affects that come with the bleached version. This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by swapping the organic flour for a gluten-free version. Please make sure your gluten-free flour is organic and non-GMO verified, otherwise you may run across some genetically modified ingredients.

The seeds in this bread all come along with astonishing health benefits, including but not limited to: protein, omega-3 fatty acids, essential minerals, and fiber. Chia seeds are extremely high in protein, calcium, antioxidants, magnesium, phosphorous, and B vitamins. They are high in good quality protein and contain a good balance of essential amino acids. The percentage of calcium and phosphorous makes them a wonderful food to strengthen your bones. Sesame seeds are high in copper, calcium, and magnesium. They should be more than just garnish on your food! They are very beneficial for those who suffer from joint pain, particularly arthritis. Due to their high levels of zinc, they aid in building stronger bones as well. Flax seeds are a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids, which many people are deficient in. They are also high in fiber, antioxidants, and magnesium. They have been proven to fight against heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. There is no doubt these seeds are wonderful additions to your diet and I recommend my clients consume more of these super seeds often. The black seeds are one of my favorites and I’ve written about their benefits as well as holistic remedies in my book, Sunnah Superfoods. Black seeds help prevent a myriad of health issues and cure many more. I advise almost every one of my clients to add them to their meals habitually.

Try this mouthwatering bread recipe and then take a walk down the bread aisle at a supermarket and read some of the labels. You’re going to realize the ton of chemicals and preservatives are not only harmful to your health, but they’re not vital to enjoy appetizing bread.

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 cup warm water

3 teaspoons dry active yeast

1 pinch organic coconut palm sugar

4 cups organic unbleached flour or gluten-free all-purpose baking flour

1 organic pasture-raised egg

1 organic pasture-raised egg yolk

1 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

Topping:

1 organic pasture-raised egg, beaten

3 tablespoons organic whole sesame seeds

2 tablespoons whole black seeds

2 tablespoons organic whole flax seeds

2 tablespoons organic chia seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the warm water in a cup with the yeast and sugar. Allow it to sit for several minutes.
3. Place all the dough ingredients (including water/yeast) in your food processor, and pulse until dough-like texture forms. It shouldn’t take too long.
4. Transfer the dough to a glass bowl and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, or until it rises.
5. Meanwhile, beat the egg (for topping) in a small bowl. Mix all of the seeds in a separate glass bowl. Set aside.
6. When the dough rises, transfer it to your loaf pans (this should make more than 2).
7. Brush the top of the loaves with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with the seed mixture.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Refrigerate any leftovers for optimum freshness.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, Sunnah Superfoods, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.