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A simple, beginner-friendly recipe for homemade Italian bread with a crackly golden crust and soft, chewy interior, using everyday pantry ingredients.

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 (1 packet)
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (105–115°F)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to coat bowl

Instructions

  1. Whisk together 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast in a large bowl.
  2. Warm 1 1/2 cups water to 105–115°F.
  3. Pour warm water and 2 tablespoons olive oil into dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until a rough, sticky dough forms.
  4. Lightly flour work surface and knead dough 8–10 minutes until smooth, stretchy, and slightly springy.
  5. Lightly grease a clean bowl with olive oil, place dough inside, cover snugly with towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot 1–1 1/2 hours until doubled.
  6. Gently press air out of dough, shape into loose oval or round, place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Cover shaped loaf loosely and let rise again 30–45 minutes until puffed and airy.
  8. Preheat oven to 400°F with shallow pan on bottom rack and optional baking stone or cast-iron skillet on upper rack.
  9. Brush top of loaf lightly with water and score a few shallow slashes across top with sharp knife or razor blade.
  10. Just before baking, pour about 1 cup hot water into preheated shallow pan to create steam, quickly close oven, and slide loaf in.
  11. Bake 30–35 minutes until crust is deep golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
  12. Remove bread and cool completely at least 45 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Steam during baking is essential for a crisp crust and proper oven spring., Use a baking stone or cast-iron skillet if available for better oven spring and crust texture., Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent gummy or dense crumb., Bread can be customized with additions like olives, cheese, herbs or shaped as rolls or pan bread., Store bread loosely wrapped in a kitchen towel at room temperature for up to one day to maintain crust., To revive stale bread, mist with water, wrap loosely in foil, and warm in 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cozyovenkitchen.com/amazing-1-hour-italian-bread-crusty-joy-forkful-heaven/