The brick oven bread recipe

Mar 13, 2025

There’s something about the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread, drifting through the restaurant at Gobelo that makes meals feel special. Whether it's served with a potjie pot of steaming hot farm stew, or simply enjoyed warm with butter at sunrise, our breads always add something comforting to the table.

One of the best things about making bread at Gobelo is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients, a little patience and the steady heat of the fire brick oven, the result is always worth the wait. Our guests enjoy the earthy experience of knowing that our bread is made right here - fresh from our teak fueled brick fire oven.. And to top it off it’s paired with our farm fresh herbs, cured meats or sausages, which are all hand grown for your enjoyment. It’s a reminder that the best meals don’t need to be complicated.

There’s nothing fancy about it. Just a few basic ingredients, mixed with patience and the right touch of heat and suddenly, you have something that turns an ordinary meal into a moment worth savouring. Another thing guests have been saying is that the bread at Gobelo tastes different. Maybe it’s the air, maybe it’s the setting, or maybe it’s just the way food feels more real when you know exactly where it came from.

So, if you’re up to it, bring a little Gobelo into your own kitchen with our signature recipe:

Bread Recipe

     -  1 tablespoon active dry yeast       -  1 cup unsifted whole wheat flour
     -  1½ teaspoons sugar                    -  1½ teaspoons salt
     -  1½ cups lukewarm water             -  Oil
     -  3 cups unsifted unbleached flour   -  Cornmeal

Method

In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water, then gradually add the flour mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover with a damp towel and let it rest in a warm place for about an hour.

Once the dough has doubled in size, divide it into the desired shape. Dust the bread mould with cornmeal, place the dough inside and let it rise again while the fire brick oven heats up.

Baking is done the Gobelo way - straight into the warmth of the brick oven, where the bread bakes for about an hour over low to medium heat. The result? A golden crust, a soft centre and the kind of flavour that can transport you back to the farm with just one bite.

Of course, nothing quite compares to enjoying it fresh from the fire with the sounds of the bush all around. But even if you’re miles away, the right bite can still take you back.