Weeknight Bread, Simplified

Good bread does not need a whole weekend. Mix the dough after dinner, let it rise slowly in the fridge overnight, and bake it before breakfast. The cold rise does the work while you sleep and gives the loaf a deeper flavor.

1. Stir together flour, water, salt and a pinch of yeast until no dry flour is left.
2. Fold the dough four times over the next hour, then cover it and put it in the fridge.
3. In the morning, shape the loaf, let it warm up for an hour, and bake it in a hot covered pot.

The most common mistake is cutting the loaf too early. Let it cool for at least an hour, or the crumb will be gummy.