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Rustic Italian Bread

Rustic Italian Bread Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 228

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups (512 g) bread flour
  • 2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) warm water

Method
 

  1. Stir flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Add warm water and mix until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
  2. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled and bubbly, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and fold edges into the center to form a ball, keeping air inside. Place seam-side down on parchment.
  4. Let shaped loaf rest uncovered for 30 minutes while preheating a Dutch oven and lid at 450°F (230°C).
  5. Carefully lower the parchment and dough into the hot pot. Score the top with one deep slash. Cover and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more until deep golden.
  6. Remove loaf to a rack and cool completely, at least 1 hour, before slicing.

Notes

Rising times are not included in the prep or cook numbers above. The hands on work is quick, but plan for about 2 to 2.5 hours of total rise time. If you start mid afternoon, you will have fresh bread for dinner.