Herbed Oatmeal Bread
Submitted by ShelaghPerez
Quick herbed oatmeal bread, a no-yeast savory loaf with whole wheat, oats, buttermilk, caraway, and dried herbs. From bowl to oven in 10 minutes, no rising required.
YIELD
1 loafPREP
10 minCOOK
50 minREADY
Yeast is the enemy of weeknight baking, and this savory oatmeal bread skips it entirely. Baking powder does the rising work, buttermilk tenderizes the whole wheat crumb, and the whole loaf comes together in one bowl with a wooden spoon. Ten minutes of stirring and into the oven it goes.
The combination of caraway seed and dried herbs like tarragon, thyme, or marjoram gives this bread its rye-bread-meets-Irish-soda-bread personality. The caraway brings that distinctive anise-pepper note while the herbs add savory depth that turns simple oat bread into something interesting alongside soup or stew.
Honey warmed to a pourable liquid is the move. Cold honey clumps and refuses to incorporate into the buttermilk smoothly, leaving sticky pockets in the dough. Thirty seconds in the microwave or a quick warm in a saucepan does it.
Do not overmix. Quick breads turn tough fast when stirred too much, the gluten in the flour develops and the soft tender crumb you want goes hard and chewy. Stir just until everything is combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Kitchen Tips
- Use a mix of dried tarragon, thyme, and marjoram for the most complex flavor, or use a single herb you love
- Brush the top with melted butter before baking for a glossy finish, the directions skip this hint but it makes a difference
- Check at 45 minutes, ovens vary and an over-baked quick bread dries out fast
- Cool 10 minutes in the pan before turning out, the loaf is fragile when hot
- This bread freezes beautifully wrapped tight in plastic and foil, slice before freezing for grab and go toast
Variations
- Stir in a tablespoon of sauteed minced onion and a quarter cup of grated sharp cheddar for cheesy onion bread
- Add chopped cooked bacon for a savory breakfast loaf
- Swap caraway for fennel seeds and Italian seasoning for a Mediterranean profile
- Top with rolled oats or sesame seeds before baking for a rustic crust
Ingredients
Directions
*Heat the honey until it’s liquefied.
**Dried herbs such as tarragon, thyme and marjoram.
Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
In large mixing bowl, combine flours, oats, baking powder and salt.
In a smaller, separate bowl, whisk together egg, honey and buttermilk until well blended.
Stir in caraway seeds and herbs.
Pour all at once over dry ingredients; blend together with a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly combined.
Pour into prepared pan; brush top with melted butter.
Bake at 350℉ (180℃) for 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool slightly in pan, then turn onto a wire rack.
Bread freezes well.
To vary, add 1 tablespoon minced, sautéed onion; chopped, cooked bacon; or grated Cheddar cheese.
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