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Crusty Italian Bread Loaf

Close-up of a freshly baked crusty Italian bread loaf, showing its golden-brown exterior and airy crumb.
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A beginner-friendly recipe for bakery-style Italian bread with a chewy crumb and crisp crust, perfect for sandwiches or dunking in soup.

Ingredients

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  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 ½ cups lukewarm water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast.
  2. Add the lukewarm water and mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours. The dough will become bubbly and increase in volume.
  4. Generously flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface.
  5. Gently fold the dough over itself a few times to form a rough ball. Do not knead.
  6. Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  7. While the dough rests, place a Dutch oven or oven-safe pot with a lid into your oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C).
  8. Once preheated, carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven.
  9. Gently lift the dough using the parchment paper and place it into the hot Dutch oven.
  10. Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and carefully place it back into the oven.
  11. Bake for 30 minutes.
  12. Remove the lid and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  13. Carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

  • For a crispier crust, you can place a shallow pan with water on the bottom rack of your oven during the initial baking period to create steam.
  • This bread is excellent for meal planning and can be used in various dishes.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cutcooktaste.com/crusty-italian-bread-easy-recipe/