Description
This Crusty Italian Bread recipe delivers a golden, crunchy crust and a soft, airy interior, perfect for enjoying as a staple alongside your favorite Italian dishes or simply with olive oil. Made with simple ingredients and baked with steam to replicate bakery-quality texture, this artisan-style bread is both satisfying and easy to prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Extra flour for dusting
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes until the mixture is foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make dough: Add the bread flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and allow it to rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
- Shape loaf: Punch down the risen dough and shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Second rise: Cover the shaped loaf loosely and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven and prepare steam: Preheat the oven to 425°F and place an empty oven-safe pan on the bottom rack.
- Score the bread: Just before baking, slash the top of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow expansion.
- Bake with steam: Place the bread in the oven, pour 1 cup of hot water into the empty pan below to create steam, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing to maximize texture and flavor.
Notes
- Creating steam in the oven is essential for a crisp, bakery-style crust.
- For enhanced flavor and texture, allow the dough to rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight after the first rise.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
