This simple overnight spelt rye bread is made with just 5 ingredients, including water and salt. It's a basic bread with an excellent flavour thanks to a long fermentation time and no need for a sourdough starter.
Combine the flours, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Stir in the water until a shaggy looking dough forms. Cover with a plate or beeswax wrap and set on the counter to rest overnight, or for about 12 hours.
300 grams spelt flour*, 270 grams whole grain rye flour, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon dry yeast, 500 ml room temperature water
Once the dough has rested, it should have risen significantly and be quite bubbly. It will be soft. Use a spatula or your hands to stretch and fold it a few times in the bowl before placing onto a large square of parchment paper or in a well floured, lined banneton. Sprinkle flour over it and cover with a towel.
Let the dough rise for another 30-60 minutes. Place a Dutch oven or other high-heat safe covered dish (e.g. pyrex) into the oven and heat to 230°C (450°F). Once the oven is hot, remove the dish and place the dough carefully into the hot pot.
Bake the bread, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and reduce the heat to 200°C (400°F) and bake for an additional 15-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden. A darker crust will have a deeper flavour, so go by your personal preference.
Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before cutting. Slicing it while it's still hot will result in an unpleasant gummy texture. Store in a sealed container or tea towel for 3-5 days at room temperature.
Notes
• Storing the bread wrapped in a tea towel will keep the crust from softening after a day. This bread does keep longer than normal yeasted bread before becoming stale but will quickly go bad if left in a warm, humid environment.* You can use either light or whole grain spelt flour, both work well.