Crusty French Bread with Rosemary and Thyme Recipe

Mix the dried yeast thoroughly in a small bowl with 40 ml lukewarm water, then leave to stand for approx. 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, wash the rosemary and thyme, shake it dry, tear the needles and leaves from their stalks and chop finely.

Prepare the automatic bread maker by taking the bread pan out of the appliance and inserting the kneading blade.

Put the flour, salt, yeast mixture, chopped herbs and the rest of the water in the bread pan. Reinsert the bread pan into the appliance and close the lid.

Once the program is finished, take the dough out of the bread pan and, with moist hands, form it into a round loaf, turning the dough downwards. Place the dough onto an oven tray and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.

Let the dough now rise on the oven tray in a warm place for around 40min – 60min (depending on your room temperature).

To pre-heat the Panasonic steam oven, select the “Combi 3” program and press “Start”.

When the time is up, set it manually for another 10 minutes, then press “Start” again. Once the program has finished, take the loaf out and leave it to cool on a wire grid.