Description
You can bake bakery-quality Italian bread at home! This easy recipe gives you a loaf with a golden, crunchy crust and a soft, chewy interior using simple pantry ingredients. It is perfect for dipping in olive oil or serving with pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 105°F to 115°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar.
- In a separate small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let it stand for 5 minutes until foamy. This confirms your yeast is active.
- Pour the yeast mixture and the 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You want it soft, not sticky.
- Lightly oil a large bowl with extra olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size. This first rise develops the flavor.
- Gently punch down the risen dough. Shape it into a tight loaf or oval shape.
- Place the shaped loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or in a prepared loaf pan. Cover loosely and let it rise again for 30 to 45 minutes, or until puffy.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a shallow pan on the bottom rack to create steam later.
- Just before baking, lightly brush the top of the loaf with water. Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife if desired.
- Place the loaf in the preheated oven. Pour about 1/2 cup of hot water into the shallow pan on the bottom rack to create steam, which helps form the crust.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200°F (93°C).
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy the aroma of your fresh baked bread!
Notes
- For an extra crispy crust, you can spray the oven walls with water a couple of times during the first 10 minutes of baking.
- If you want a softer crust, skip the steam pan and brush the loaf with a little melted butter immediately after it comes out of the oven.
- This bread is fantastic for making sandwiches or dipping into olive oil.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 2
- Saturated Fat: 0.3
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0