Description
This Crusty Italian Bread recipe guides you through making a perfect golden-brown loaf with a crunchy crust every time. Using simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, yeast, and olive oil, this bread features a chewy, elastic texture with a flavorful crumb, ideal for sandwiches or accompanying your favorite meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a rough dough forms that is manageable for kneading.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it for 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, essential for gluten development.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place a baking stone or an inverted baking sheet inside to heat thoroughly, which helps achieve a crispy crust.
- Shape Loaf: Punch down the risen dough and shape it into a round loaf. Place the loaf on a piece of parchment paper for easy transfer.
- Second Rise: Cover the shaped dough with the kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes to develop a light, airy crumb.
- Score and Bake: Using a sharp knife, make a few slashes on the top of the loaf to allow steam to escape while baking. Transfer the loaf along with the parchment paper onto the hot baking stone or sheet.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it’s fully baked.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing to prevent a gummy texture.
Notes
- Ensure the water temperature is around 110°F for optimal yeast activation.
- Using a baking stone or inverted baking sheet helps create the perfect crust by evenly distributing heat.
- Letting the bread cool completely before slicing ensures the crumb is set and prevents it from becoming gummy.
- Slashing the dough allows room for expansion and adds to the bread’s visual appeal.
- This bread stores well at room temperature for up to 2 days; for longer storage, wrap and freeze.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Italian bread, crusty bread, homemade bread, yeast bread, baking bread, loaf bread, easy bread recipe
