Description
This classic crusty Italian bread features a crisp golden crust and a soft, airy interior. It’s perfect for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or serving alongside soups and pasta dishes. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe yields a bakery-quality loaf at home.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit undisturbed for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: Add olive oil, bread flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy, rough dough begins to form.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and springs back when pressed.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the dough gently to release air. Shape it into a loaf and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Second Rise: Loosely cover the shaped dough and let it rise again for 30 minutes until puffed.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). To help develop the crust, place a pan filled with hot water on the oven floor.
- Score the Dough: With a sharp knife, make shallow slashes on top of the loaf to allow steam to escape and help form the crust.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes until it turns a deep golden brown and develops a crisp crust.
- Cool the Bread: Remove from oven and let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to ensure the crumb sets properly.
Notes
- Placing a pan of hot water in the oven during baking helps create a steamy environment for an extra-crusty exterior.
- Using bread flour yields the best chewy texture due to its higher protein content.
- Store the bread at room temperature in a bread box or paper bag for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
