Grain and Spice Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat berries
• 3 cups white flour
• 1 1/2 to 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 flat tablespoons dry yeast
• 5 flat tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 to 2 cups lukewarm water
• a third cup olive oil
• 1 heaping tablespoon salt
• half cup whole flaxseeds
• half cup wheat bran
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• half teaspoon ground black pepper

Preparation

Soak the wheat berries in water overnight.
Drain the wheat kernels thoroughly.
Mix the flours, yeast and sugar.
Add the spices and mix well.
Add the water and olive oil.
Add the salt.
Knead until you get a smooth, even dough. If the dough is sticky, you can add a little whole wheat flour.
Lightly oil the dough with a very small amount of olive oil and let it rise in a bowl covered with a damp towel, until the dough doubles in volume.
Deflate the dough.
Divide the dough in two, shape two loaves, place them in a baking pan lined with parchment paper, cover with a damp towel and let them rise for another hour.
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Place a heatproof dish half filled with hot water on the bottom of the oven.
Place the loaves in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove the water dish from the oven.
Reduce the temperature to 180 and continue baking for another 35 minutes, until the loaves are brown.