Description
This Crusty Italian Bread recipe provides a perfect balance of a chewy interior and a crispy crust, ideal for sandwiches or serving with meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups (450g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp instant yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt. Gradually add warm water, mixing with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Let the dough rise in a warm area for 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Gently shape it into a round loaf, being careful not to overwork the dough. Place it on parchment paper.
- Cover the loaf with a towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 450°F, placing a Dutch oven inside to heat.
- Carefully place the dough (with parchment) into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- Using a kitchen scale for measuring flour can improve accuracy.
- For extra flavor, consider adding herbs or garlic to the dough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg