My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method [Hardcover]

Starred Review. The founder of New York 's Sullivan Street Bakery, Lahey started a revolution in 2006 with his no-knead dough technique, in which flour, yeast, salt and water are mixed together quickly, left alone for 12 hours, then baked in a Dutch oven. The baking-averse found themselves suddenly capable of bread-making with a minimum of skill and fuss, opening a world of possibilities. In this wonderful compilation, Lahey elaborates on that method, explaining not only the science behind his approach but, through liberal use of photos, the technique as well. Once readers have mastered his basic dough (which won t take long), they re on their way to crafting homemade pizza, ciabatta, foccacia and rye as well as more playful variations such as peanut butter and jelly bread. While waiting for dough to rise, readers can pick from suggested sandwiches, such as Lahey 's Cuban, made with Citrus Roast Porkand homemade pickles. Lahey 's passion for bread-making and feeding people carries the book; his plainspoken advice and patient tutelage provide novices with a sure, steady hand to hold; and his methods will surely be adopted by chefs and bakers of all stripes.

Jim Lahey's 'breathtaking, miraculous, no-work, no-knead bread' ("Vogue") has revolutionised the food world. Inspired by the ancient art of Italian bread making, he developed artisanal bread that is entirely his own and soon can be yours. The method, which captured worldwide attention, is practically foolproof and allows the home baker to let the dough rise slowly, without any kneading or fuss and then bake it in a heavy, preheated pot. In "My Bread", Lahey also shares the fun of making his inventive recipes for classic breads like the rustic Italian baguette, the stirato, and his famous pizza bianca. With step-by-step instructions and full colour photographs of finished loaves, "My Bread" is perfect for home cooks who have always wanted to make beautiful, deeply flavoured bread but found traditional recipes dauntingly complicated.

Jim Lahey is the baker and owner of the Sullivan Street Bakery and the New York pizza restaurant Co. Rick Flaste is the founding editor of The New York Times's Dining section.