Description
Make bakery-style Italian bread at home with a crispy crust and a soft, chewy interior. This recipe is simple enough for beginners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 105-115°F)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten (for wash)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, and salt.
- Add the warm water and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5 to 7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Gently punch down the risen dough. Shape it into a long loaf or round shape. Place the loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cover the shaped loaf loosely and let it rest for a second rise for 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) during this time. Place a shallow pan on the bottom rack to create steam later.
- Brush the top of the loaf lightly with the beaten egg white. Score the top of the bread with a sharp knife 2 or 3 times.
- Carefully pour about 1/2 cup of hot water into the shallow pan on the bottom rack and quickly close the oven door to trap the steam.
- Bake for 25 to 30 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.
Notes
- For an extra crispy crust, spray the oven walls with water a couple of times during the first 10 minutes of baking.
- You can use this dough to make rolls by dividing it into 8 equal pieces before the second rise.
- This bread is excellent served warm with butter or used for dipping into pasta sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 1
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0