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Crusty Italian Bread Loaf

A beautiful, golden-brown loaf of crusty Italian bread with a scored top, resting on a speckled countertop.
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Bake a bakery-style Italian bread loaf with a chewy crumb and crisp crust. This easy recipe is perfect for beginners and ideal for sandwiches, dipping in soup, or serving with dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 ½ cups warm water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast.
  2. Add the warm water and mix with a wooden spoon 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. When ready to bake, lightly flour a work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently shape it into a round or oval loaf. Avoid overworking the dough.
  5. Place the shaped dough onto a piece of parchment paper.
  6. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  7. While the dough is resting, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place a Dutch oven or a baking stone in the oven to preheat.
  8. If using a Dutch oven, carefully remove it from the oven, place the parchment paper with the dough inside, and cover with the lid.
  9. If using a baking stone, carefully slide the dough (still on parchment paper) onto the hot stone. You can create steam by placing a shallow pan filled with water on the bottom rack of the oven.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on (if using a Dutch oven) or with steam.
  11. Remove the lid (if using a Dutch oven) or remove the steam pan. Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200-210°F (93-99°C).
  12. Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

  • For a crispier crust, you can spray the oven walls with water a few times during the first 15 minutes of baking.
  • If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can bake the bread on a preheated baking stone or baking sheet.
  • This dough can also be made in a stand mixer. Combine ingredients in the mixer bowl and mix on low speed for 2 minutes until a shaggy dough forms, then proceed with the long fermentation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://devourdish.com/crusty-italian-bread-loaf/