No-Knead Oatmeal Bread with Fresh Tomato Soup – A Light and Refreshing Dinner

Nothing can beat a homemade wholegrain bread and a cup of hot veggie soup for a cozy weekend family dinner. Normally weekends are reserved for going out and dinning at places where we can do a little bit of window shopping and let the kids indulge in play areas. Incessant rain marred our Saturday plans and we decided to stay put. This is when the idea to bake a fresh wholegrain bread with fresh soup came across.

Incidentally the blog I was assigned by Amanda for SRC this month is Amy’s and this no-knead bread from her blog is the perfect selection for the club. Amy has baked this lovely no knead loaf with lots patience and perfection, I did not have that much time in hand and thus reduced the rising time for the baking. I also replaced the refined flour with whole wheat flour and oatmeal to make it more wholesome. The loaf turned out perfect with crusty top and soft inside.

Follow Amy’s recipe for more authentic version of this wonderful no-knead bread.

On most of the days I like to cook soups with lentils in it which gives a thick and creamy consistency besides being a good source of fiber and protein. But avoided adding the same to the soup this time as I wanted to keep it light and something which could be cooked in less time. Try this Whole Lentil & Mint soup for a healthy option.

No-Knead Oatmeal & Whole wheat Bread

Ingredients;

(serve 2)

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup refined flour
• 1/4 cup oatmeal + 1tsp oats
• 1/4 tsp. dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp. sesame seeds

Crusty and fresh loaf..

Method; Take the whole-wheat flour, refined flour and oats in a large vessel and add salt in it. Soak dry yeast in ¼ cup of water and leave it for 10 minutes to activate.

Pour the activated yeast in the dry flour and mix thoroughly. Add rest of the water to make sticky dough. Grease a bowl with oil and place the dough in it, cover the bowl with a plastic cling foil or just any plate.

Let the dough rest for about 6-7 hours.

Take the risen dough out on a floured surface, deflate it and fold it twice. Grease a baking tray and pre heat the oven at 200 c.

Make a ball out of the dough and place it gently on the greased baking tray. Brush the surface with oil and sprinkle sesame seeds and a tsp. of oats on it. Make two incisions on the bread with a sharp knife.

Upside down..

Let the dough rest for another 1-2 hours.

Bake the well risen dough at 200 C for 40 minutes or till the surface is golden brown.

Soft and fluffy from inside..

Ingredients;

(serve 4)

• 250 gms fresh tomatoes (10-12)
• One large carrot
• 1 medium size onion
• 4 garlic pods
• 1 tbsp butter/Olive oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp sugar (optional)
• 1 tsp. corn flour
• 2 tsp. white pepper
• 2 cups of water/vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp. of any herb of your choice (basil/mint/coriander)

Method; Peel and dice the onion & garlic. Scrape the carrot and grate it. Wash the tomatoes and dice them into small cubes.

Heat butter or olive oil in a wok and add diced onion, fry it for a few seconds till they turn translucent in color. Add chopped garlic, cubed tomatoes and the grated carrots and cook for about 5-6 minutes. Reserve a tbsp. of grated carrots for garnish.

Take off from heat and cool it little. Blend the whole mixture with a hand blender or a mixer.

Strain the liquid with a strainer. Heat another vessel and pour the strained liquid in it. Mix corn flour with a little milk and add it to the boiling liquid. Add sugar, salt and pepper in the tomato soup and take off from the flame. Add the grated carrot and basil or any herb of your choice to garnish the soup.

Serve the hot tomato soup with bread croutons, a dollop of fresh cream or a dash of lemon juice. Enjoy the rich and healthy Tomato Soup with the freshly baked oatmeal & whole wheat bread.

Dunk the pieces in the fresh tomato soup..Mmm

Notes;

1. Add a small beet to the while frying to get a lovely deep red color for the soup.
2. The bread is very crusty and chewy, dunk it in soup and enjoy the wholesome loaf.
3. This is a small loaf and serves two.
4. Oatmeal in the bread perks up the nutrition and makes the loaf a
5. A dash of lemon juice to the soup will give a tangy taste and a wonderful citrus flavor.