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Crusty Italian Bread Recipe

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4.2 from 23 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf (12 slices)
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Crusty Italian Bread features a golden, crunchy crust paired with a soft, airy interior. Made with simple ingredients like bread flour, yeast, and olive oil, it’s perfect for sandwiches, dipping into olive oil, or serving alongside soups and pasta dishes.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • 1½ cups warm water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the bread flour and salt thoroughly to ensure even seasoning.
  3. Combine Ingredients: Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Stir until a dough starts to form.
  4. Knead Dough: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, developing good gluten structure.
  5. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
  6. Shape Loaf: Punch down the risen dough, shape it into a loaf, and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Second Rise: Cover the shaped dough and let it rise again for 30 minutes to achieve a light, airy texture.
  8. Preheat Oven and Prepare Loaf: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Just before baking, slash the top of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape and to create a rustic look.
  9. Bake Bread: Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes until it’s golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it’s fully baked.
  10. Cool Loaf: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to preserve the texture.

Notes

  • Place a pan of hot water in the oven during baking to create steam, which helps develop a crisp crust.
  • Using bread flour yields the best chewy texture with good gluten development compared to all-purpose flour.
  • Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to maintain the crumb structure and prevent it from becoming gummy.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian

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