yeast

Yeast is the ingredient that turns flour and water into something alive. It’s what gives brioche rolls their soft, pillowy pull, what makes garlic knots worth tearing apart at the table, and what creates the pocket in a homemade pita that is hard to find in anything from a store.

Working with yeast takes a little patience — you’re waiting for something biological to happen — but once you understand what you’re looking for, it becomes one of the most satisfying techniques in a home kitchen.

These recipes are a good place to start, and an even better place to get comfortable.