Crystal Bread: What It Is and How to Make It

This crystal bread is a variation of the classical versions. It's great with olive oil, with cheese, or even with some types of sausage. Give it a try!

Written and verified by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Crystal bread is a type of food that has special characteristics. In the first place, it stands out for its hydration, which gives it a thin and crispy crust.

Here, we’re going to teach you how to make crystal bread in a simple way. This product is great for making sandwiches and toast. Also, it tastes and smells great, and will surely please the whole family!

Characteristics of crystal bread

As we’ve mentioned, crystal bread has a different texture than other types of bread. It always has a crunchy touch on the outside, and a soft texture on the inside. This makes it perfect to eat with cheese, and with products like ham and olive oil.

Using olive oil as a side dish gives it lots of nutritional properties. This ingredient has omega 3 fatty acids, elements that can help keep inflammation under control. A study published in the journal International Immunology shows this.

On the other hand, we should mention that using sausages can sometimes have certain risks. Nitrites are common preservatives in sausages. These substances have been shown to increase the risk of developing some types of cancer when used regularly.

We are talking about a product that has insoluble dietary fiber. Then, this helps to form the stool bolus. In fact, regularly eating them is associated with a lower risk of constipation, according to research in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

Crystal bread recipe

We’re going to teach you how to prepare crystal bread in a simple way, ensuring a delicious result. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 3 cups of bread flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 tablespoon of baker’s yeast

Instructions

The key to success is to be successful in preparing the dough, which is a little bit difficult to work with. For this reason, it’s best to use a stand mixer with a dough hook. 

Add the flour to a bowl, and add the water little by little. First, start off with 1/2 cup of water and start the mixer. After a couple of minutes, add another 1/2 cup, without stopping the mixer. Then, add the last half.

Over time, it will form a smooth mixture. When it’s fully mixed, add the rest of the water until it forms a sticky consistency.

Then, you’ll need to add the salt and continue kneading. Finally, add the yeast, and keep the mixer going for a few more minutes to blend it all. You can increase the speed of the appliance at this time to achieve a better result.

Kneading and resting the dough

When the mixer is done, place the dough on a surface dusted with flour. Then, knead it well and fold it into four pieces.

Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes. Then, knead the dough and rest it again. Do this a total of 3 times.

Once you do that, place the dough in a bowl coated with extra virgin olive oil. Next, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a dark and dry place at room temperature until it doubles in volume.

Baking

When the bread dough has risen, place it back on the countertop to rest, without releasing any gas it has stored inside. It’s important to sprinkle flour over the surface to prevent it from sticking.

Then, slightly stretch the dough into a rectangle, but without forcing it, to prevent it from breaking. Once it’s thin, cut it into regular portions and place it on a baking sheet.

Preheat the oven to 450ºF on a convection bake. While it heats up, cover the dough with a kitchen cloth. Once the oven is ready, bake the bread for about 25 minutes until the outside is dry and crispy.

Try making crystal bread

As you can see, making crystal bread can be tricky. To make it perfectly, we recommend that you follow the recipe step by step, without rushing. This way, you’ll get an excellent product to accompany different ingredients to make perfect sandwiches.