Description
A delightful and easy-to-make crusty Italian bread that enhances any meal with its inviting aroma and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until frothy.
- Add flour, salt, and olive oil into the mixture. Stir until a rough dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until it feels smooth and elastic.
- Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place a baking stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven to heat up.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and shape it into a round loaf. Transfer it to a sheet of parchment paper.
- Cover the dough and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
- Using a sharp knife, score the top of the loaf. Carefully transfer the loaf (on the parchment paper) to the hot baking stone or sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
For a chewier texture, consider using bread flour instead of all-purpose flour. You can also experiment with adding herbs or cheese for variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: bread, Italian bread, baking, homemade bread, crusty bread