Description
Learn how to make a delicious Crusty Italian Bread at home with this easy recipe. This bread has a crispy crust and a soft, chewy interior, perfect for dipping in olive oil or enjoying with your favorite meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
Additional:
- Cornmeal for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare Yeast Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- Mix Dough: Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a rough dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
- Shape and Rise Again: Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, place on a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal, cover, and let it rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat and Slash: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a pan of water in the oven for steam. Slash the loaf with a knife before baking.
- Bake: Bake bread for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool and Enjoy: Cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can customize this bread by adding herbs, olives, or cheese to the dough for extra flavor.
- For a crispier crust, you can brush the loaf with water before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 50g)
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Italian bread, homemade bread, artisan bread, crusty bread
